Using dynamic analysis to infer Python programs and convert them into database programs

This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2018Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 195-196).I present Nero, a new system that automatically infers and regenerates programs that access databases. The developer first implements a Python program that uses lists and dictionaries to implement the database functionality. Nero then instruments the Python list and dictionary implementations and uses active learning to generate inputs that enable it to infer the behavior of the program. The program can be implemented in any arbitrary style as long as it implements behavior expressible in the domain specific language that characterizes the behaviors that Nero is designed to infer. The regenerated program replaces the Python lists and dictionaries with database tables and contains all code required to successfully access the databases. Results from several inferred and regenerated applications highlight the ability of Nero to enable developers with no knowledge of database programming to obtain programs that successfully access databases.by Jerry Wu.M. Eng.M.Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Scienc