Software Debloating from Exception-Handler Lenses

Software debloating tools typically prioritize the preservation of error-free paths by utilizing test cases that reflect the intended behavior or providing accurate configurations. As a result, exception-handling procedures, which handle abnormal application states, will be removed from debloated programs, affecting the application's robustness. In this paper, we elevate exception handlers to first-class status by envisioning an approach driven by exceptions. We aim to activate paths leading to different error situations and capture consistent behavior by applying fault injection and program-invariant techniques. We propose new metrics to evaluate the performance of exception handlers and also the performance of debloating techniques in the presence of exception handlers. We explain the challenges that the addition of exception handlers adds to the debloating process.