Ada Jobs - Eurocontrol/CFMU, Belgium
- Stagiair or Master Thesis proposal (Brussels, Belgium)

Submitted: 2008/06/11.

Short description

Study/improve the techniques and tools available in the framework of valgrind and apply to a big Ada based application.

Long description

Context

CFMU is making extensive use of Ada, including features such as Ada tasking (i.e. multi-threading) and dynamic memory.

Valgrind is a framework in which various checking tools have been developped for dynamic analysis. Among others:

• memcheck: checker for memory leak, dangling pointer, uninitialized data;
• cachegrind/callgrind: tool to find where CPU is used;
• massif: tool to report about heap usage;
• omega: instant leak detector;
• helgrind: tool searching for data race condition access;
• drd: similar to helgrind.

Objective of the work

Study and compare the various tools available around a certain class of problem, see how they are implemented in valgrind, and apply/experiment with these tools in the CFMU environment.

CFMU is currently routinely using memcheck and callgrind. It might be more interesting to look at other tools to see how well they work. The data race condition checking tools are probably the most interesting to look at (two different algorithms with their advantages and disadvantages).

A possible approach

The tools and how they work could be looked at and evaluated gradually:

• First on some very small executable tests: the ACATS tests (these are the standardized tests used for Ada compiler conformity checking). Running the ACATS tests under memcheck has already been done. These tests can be used for a first evaluation of other valgrind tools.
• Afterwards, running these tools on the CFMU "unit test programs".
• Finally, running these on the complete application.

Based on the findings of the above and on the study of the tools, algorithms, etc. it is probably possible to describe, compare, evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the various tools and/or suggest improvements to the tools and/or implement them and/or suggest improvements about how to use these tools in CFMU.

Some practical details

• The student should be a member of the ECAC or Eurocontrol member states.
• Duration: the order of magnitude is a few person-months, to be discussed.
• Start date, end date, full or part time: all to be discussed.
• Location: a significant part of the work (viz. running on the CFMU unit tests and application) must be done in the CFMU premises in Brussels.
• A working knowledge of English is preferable, a working knowledge of French is acceptable.
• Profile: the following knowledge/experience is desirable:
  • Ada knowledge;
  • C knowledge;
  • some knowledge of valgrind and/or compiler related technology (e.g. binary code translation techniques, run-time, ...);
  • Linux knowledge (e.g. some shell scripting);
  • techniques and concepts used in the various valgrind tools (e.g. race condition detection algorithms).
• Eurocontrol provides some financial support for stagiaires (including travel expenses at begin and end of trainership). Precise details about all this to be provided later on.

Contact person

Philippe Waroquiers
philippe.waroquiers@eurocontrol.int
Rue de la Fusee 96
B-1130 Brussels
Tel.: +32-2-729.97.35

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Last update: 2008/06/25.