A generic approach of static analysis for detecting runtime errors in Java programs

This paper presents a generic approach to statically analyze Java programs in order to detect potential errors (bugs). We discuss a framework that supports our approach and carries out the static analysis of Java code automatically. Our approach can detect potential bugs and report them before the program is executed. For a Java class, invariants related to the category of error under examination are automatically generated and used to assess the validity of variable usage in the implementation of this class. Our approach is distinctive in its emphasis to provide a practical generic mechanism for error detection that is capable of addressing error detection for a variety of error categories via a web of specialized components. A research prototype has been developed that demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach.