Efficient Groundness Analysis in Prolog

Title: Efficient Groundness Analysis in Prolog

Research Question: How can we design an efficient groundness analysis tool using Prolog, focusing on the representation of Boolean functions and the implementation of domain operations?

Methodology: The researchers investigated the design and implementation of a groundness analysis tool using Prolog, focusing on the representation of definite Boolean functions (Def). They applied a systematic design approach to create a new representation and algorithms for Def, taking advantage of its unique properties. This included developing efficient domain operations and an iteration strategy.

Results: The researchers developed a Prolog-based groundness analyzer that was both efficient and scalable. The new representation and algorithms for Def resulted in improved performance and reduced complexity. The analysis could be implemented straightforwardly in Prolog, and the use of a non-ground representation led to an efficient tool that did not require widening for invocation, even on large benchmarks.

Implications: This research has significant implications for the field of logic programming and abstract interpretation. The new Prolog-based groundness analyzer provides a practical and efficient tool for tracking dependencies among program variables. The systematic design approach to representation and domain operations can be applied to other Boolean function classes, such as Pos. The research also highlights the potential of Prolog as a medium for implementing symbolic analysis tools.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0201012v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0201012v1