Equivalence Checking of Java Methods: Toward Ensuring IoT Dependability

IoT devices are software-rich and Java is sometimes chosen as the developing programming language. Although Java is highly productive in constructing large advanced programs, application or user-defined Java classes must be responsible for safety and security issues. In particular, two fundamental methods hashCode and equals play key roles in safety and security assurance. Some existing studies for ensuring the correctness of these two methods rely on static analysis, which are limited to loop-free programs only. This paper proposes a new solution to this important problem, based on equivalence checking of methods or functions. The proposed approach makes use of software analysis workbench (SAW), an open source tool. The approach is also useful in reducing the cost of regression testing when program refactoring is conducted.