Symbolic MRD: Dynamic Memory, Undefined Behaviour, and Extrinsic Choice

We present the first thin-air free memory model that admits compiler optimisations that aggressively leverage knowledge from alias analysis, an assumption of freedom from undefined behaviour, and from the extrinsic choices of real implementations such as over-alignment. Our model has tooling support with state-of-the-art performance, executing a battery of tests orders of magnitude quicker than other executable thin-air free semantics. The model integrates with the C/C++ memory model through an exportable semantic dependency relation, it allows standard compilation mappings for atomics, and it matches all tests in the recently published desiderata for C/C++ from the ISO.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Proceedings of the ACM on Programming Languages
Published
2025-04-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1145/3721089
Primary Topic
Logic, programming, and type systems
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Symbolic MRD: Dynamic Memory, Undefined Behaviour, and Extrinsic Choice

Mark Batty, J. C. N. Richards, Simon Cooksey, Daniel Wright
Proceedings of the ACM on Programming Languages
Logic, programming, and type systems
article

Symbolic MRD: Dynamic Memory, Undefined Behaviour, and Extrinsic Choice

Mark Batty, J. C. N. Richards, Simon Cooksey, Daniel Wright
article en

Abstract

We present the first thin-air free memory model that admits compiler optimisations that aggressively leverage knowledge from alias analysis, an assumption of freedom from undefined behaviour, and from the extrinsic choices of real implementations such as over-alignment. Our model has tooling support with state-of-the-art performance, executing a battery of tests orders of magnitude quicker than other executable thin-air free semantics. The model integrates with the C/C++ memory model through an exportable semantic dependency relation, it allows standard compilation mappings for atomics, and it matches all tests in the recently published desiderata for C/C++ from the ISO.

Proceedings of the ACM on Programming LanguagesVol. 9(OOPSLA1)
Nvidia (United Kingdom) (GB), University of Kent (GB), University of Surrey (GB)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 97%
Logic, programming, and type systems
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.