Data-flow analysisData-flow analysis is a technique for gathering information about the possible set of values calculated at various points in a computer program. A program's control-flow graph (CFG) is used to determine those parts of a program to which a particular value assigned to a variable might propagate. The information gathered is often used by compilers when optimizing a program. A canonical example of a data-flow analysis is reaching definitions.
Considered harmfulConsidered harmful is a part of a phrasal template "X considered harmful". , its snowclones have been used in the titles of at least 65 critical essays in computer science and related disciplines. Its use in this context originated with a 1968 letter by Edsger Dijkstra published as "Go To Statement Considered Harmful". Considered harmful was already a journalistic cliché used in headlines, well before the Dijkstra article, as in, for example, the headline over a letter published in 1949 in The New York Times: "Rent Control Controversy / Enacting Now of Hasty Legislation Considered Harmful".
Virtual method tableIn computer programming, a virtual method table (VMT), virtual function table, virtual call table, dispatch table, vtable, or vftable is a mechanism used in a programming language to support dynamic dispatch (or run-time method binding). Whenever a class defines a virtual function (or method), most compilers add a hidden member variable to the class that points to an array of pointers to (virtual) functions called the virtual method table.
Fonction primitiveEn informatique, une fonction primitive (parfois appelée simplement « primitive » lorsqu'il n'y a pas d'ambiguïté) peut désigner une fonction de base fournie par une couche logicielle, juste au-dessus de l'architecture matérielle d'un ordinateur. Les primitives sont généralement fournies par une interface de programmation. Elles sont souvent plus rapides et efficaces que leurs versions équivalentes programmées à haut niveau, car elles sont optimisées pour le matériel piloté, en gérant les entrées-sorties.