System and method for dynamically detecting unchecked error condition values in computer programs

Abstract

The disclosed program checker checks whether a program internally tests for error codes that may be returned by procedures used by the program. The program being tested is executed. Each time that a subroutine in the program is about to perform a subroutine or procedure return operation, a program interpreter is invoked. The program interpreter simulates continued execution of the program once for a good return value and once for each error condition return value that is listed in an error condition table entry for the subroutine in which the return operation is being performed. For each simulation of the program, the program interpreter determines the execution path of the program and then compares the execution path for each error condition return value with the execution path for the good return value. If the execution path for any error condition return value is the same as the execution path for a good return value, an error report is generated to indicate that the corresponding error condition return value is not checked by the program.