Broadening field specialization

Abstract

Three extensions to the conventional field specialization process are disclosed. The first extension is cross-application value flows, where a value transfers out of one application and subsequently into another application. The second extension is an inter-application analysis. Static and dynamic analysis is performed by a Spiff Toolset not just on the source code of a single application, but also across the data read and written by that application. The third extension is invariant cross-application termination, verifying the possibility of an invariant originating in an application and terminating in a specialization opportunity in a separate application. An ecosystem specification is disclosed to enable such field specialization broadening. This specification states which applications are involved, what input data sources are read, what intermediate and final data products are produced, and what services are invoked, thereby providing valuable information on how intermediate results are communicated among the various applications.