An Introduction to the Joeq Compiler System

The joeq compiler system is a compiler analysis framework, compiler, and full virtual machine written in the Java programming language. It is open source, distributed under the LGPL - for full information, check out the joeq homepage.

A description of the Joeq system appears in the article:
J. Whaley, Joeq: A Virtual Machine and Compiler Infrastructure,
In ACM SIGPLAN 2003 Workshop on Interpreters, Virtual Machines and Emulators, June 2003.

The joeq system is extremely large. We will restrict ourselves to a small, standalone subset of the complete system.

• Java Basics: If you've never actually used the Java VM before, this will get you started, as well as pointing you to official resources. If you can't get the Java installed in Sweet Hall to work, check here too.
• Bytecodes and Quads: A quick overview of how the Java VM stores code, and the Quad representation used by joeq.
• The Code Hierarchy: How joeq stores and operates on programs, from class files down to individual instructions.
• Details of the Quad representation: The raw material your analyses will work upon.
• Details of the Visitor classes: The interfaces you must implement, or the classes you must extend, to do useful work.
• The Analysis Interface: The Main.Helper class and the primary operations it supports.
• Writing and executing a compiler pass: The basics of creating a pass and running it over arbitrary code.
• Advanced Example 1: Determining all possible thrown exceptions.
• Advanced Example 2: Manipulating variables in quads.
• Advanced Example 3: Manipulating control flow graphs.

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For definitive information on the joeq system, consult the joeq javadocs on Sourceforge.