A Survey on Systems Support for Scalable Value-Flow Analysis

PhD Qualifying Examination


Title: "A Survey on Systems Support for Scalable Value-Flow Analysis"

by

Mr. Sixiang PENG


Abstract:

Value-flow analyses over sparse value-flow graphs are fundamental to static 
analysis, yet running them at scale on large, evolving codebases poses significant 
systems challenges. Relevant techniques are spread across analysis frameworks, 
graph engines, and evolution tools, but have not been systematically organized from 
a unified systems perspective. This survey reviews systems support for scalable 
value-flow analysis along three dimensions: (1) program representation and 
value-flow graph construction; (2) data representation and persistence; (3) 
execution backends. By structuring the literature around these aspects, the survey 
clarifies common design patterns and trade-offs, and outlines a rich systems-
oriented design space for future research on practical, large-scale value-flow 
analysis.


Date:                   Thursday, 12 February 2026

Time:                   10:00am - 12:00noon

Venue:                  Room 3494
                        Lift 25/26

Committee Members:      Prof. Charles Zhang (Supervisor)
                        Dr. Jiasi Shen (Chairperson)
                        Dr. Wei Wang