New tool prevents bug manifestations in computer software

Washington, Jan 28 (ANI): Scientists from Dependable Systems Lab at EPFL have developed a novel tool that would help prevent bug manifestations in computer software.

The latest version of Dimmunix, developed by a team led by Prof. George Candea at EPFL and available for free download, enables entire networks of computers to cooperate in order to collectively manage bugs in the software.

It enables programs to avoid future recurrences of bugs without any assistance from users or programmers.

The approach, termed "failure immunity," starts working the first time a bug occurs - it saves a signature of the bug, then observes how the computer reacts, and records a trace.

When the bug is about to manifest again, Dimmunix uses these traces to recognize the bug and automatically alters the execution so the program continues to run smoothly.

With Dimmunix, the Web browser learns how to avoid freezing a second time when bugs associated with, for example, plug-ins occur.

The latest version uses cloud computing technology to take advantage of networks and thereby inoculating entire communities of computers.

"Dimmunix could be compared to a human immune system. Once the body is infected, its immune system develops antibodies. Subsequently, when the immune system encounters the same pathogen once again, the body recognizes it and knows how to effectively fight the ill-ness," said George Candea, director of Dependable Systems Lab, where the new tool has been developed.

Dimmunix is able to safely protect programs from bugs, even in untrusted environments such as the Internet. (ANI)