Archiving programs for the future

Alexander Binun, Shlomi Dolev, Yin Li

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach for long-term software archiving which is based on preserving programs as bit blocks. A simple machine that is able to execute a single command is used to interpret these bit blocks. We suggest to compile the existing programs into the bit representation of the One-Instruction- Set computer (OISC) command "SUBtract and Branch if Less than or EQual to zero", shortly Subleq. This is in order to keep the resulting bit stream using error correcting code in a reliable storage unit. At any moment, this bit stream can be executed by a simple interpreter that possesses the functionality of a basic Random Access Machine. Furthermore, a compiler prototype based on an existing compiler and interpreter is also proposed to convert a program written by a procedural language (e.g., C) into the Subleq assembly language, and then translates it into a binary executable format. Error correcting is achieved by supplementing bit streams with Hamming codes. Our scheme nullifies the need to preserve legacy hardware in order to support/operate preserved software systems thus serving as a program "time capsule" for the future.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSKY 2015 - Proceedings of the 6th International Workshop on Software Knowledge, in conjuction with IC3K 2015
EditorsIaakov Exman, Juan Llorens, Anabel Fraga
PublisherSciTePress
Pages53-57
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9789897581625
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2015
Event6th International Workshop on Software Knowledge, SKY 2015 - Lisbon, Portugal
Duration: 12 Nov 201514 Nov 2015

Publication series

NameSKY 2015 - Proceedings of the 6th International Workshop on Software Knowledge, in conjuction with IC3K 2015

Conference

Conference6th International Workshop on Software Knowledge, SKY 2015
Country/TerritoryPortugal
CityLisbon
Period12/11/1514/11/15

Keywords

  • Data archiving
  • Long-term bit preservation
  • OISC
  • Subleq

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software

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