Static stack-usage analysis for x86

StackAnalyzer for x86 statically determines the worst-case stack usage of tasks in safety-critical applications written or generated in C, C++ or PL/I and compiled to run on 16-bit, 32-bit or 64-bit x86 processors.

Key features

Static analysis of binary files, exactly as they are executed in the final system.
Clear and precise information on the worst-case stack usage by application tasks.
Detailed analysis results for all hierarchy levels: routines, basic blocks, assembly instructions.
Recursions, function pointers, inline assembly code, and library-function calls are all taken into account.
Automatic recognition of dead code.
Feature-rich GUI with graphical and textual views for analysis results, control flow, source code, assembly code, statistics, and more.
Command-line mode for easy integration into automated build processes.
Exceptionally fast analysis of complex real-world software.
Freely selectable entry points for the analysis, so you can focus on the worst-case path or other areas of interest, and speed up the analysis even further.
Seamless integration with other analysis tools from AbsInt — e.g. TimingProfiler for profiling the worst-case execution time.

Your benefits

StackAnalyzer lets you prevent stack overflow for all possible inputs and task executions under any circumstances — without wasting hardware resources.
StackAnalyzer requires no code instrumentation, no testing, no measuring, no modification of your system, no modification of your toolchain, and it will not be misled by potential flaws in debug information.
Using StackAnalyzer is essential in meeting current safety standards such as ISO 26262, DO-178B/C, IEC-61508, and EN-50128, where statically analyzing your stack usage is part of the architectural safety requirements.

Supported architecture variants and extensions

x86-32 (ia32, Intel 32)
x86-64 (AMD64, Intel 64)
x87
MMX
3DNow!
SSE
SSE2
SSE3
SSE4.1
SSE4.2
AES
AVX
AVX2

This covers a wide array of architectures, including 8086, 80286, i386, i486, and AMD K6-2E+. However, for the purposes of licensing and pricing, StackAnalyzer for 16-, 32-, and 64-bit x86s are treated as three separate products. Likewise, i386DX and IntelDX4/Am486 are supported separately.

Supported compilers

GNU C/C++ Compiler (GCC) for 32-bit flat mode or 64-bit long mode
The formally verified CompCert compiler
CAD-UL Tool Suite C/C++ compiler for x86 protected mode
Intel iC-86 C/C++ Compiler (ICC) for 16-bit real mode
Cygnus LynxOS x86 C/C++ Compiler (LynuxWorks) for 32-bit flat mode
LLVM/Clang based C/C++ compilers
PL/I compiler for x86 processors (protected mode)

The standard license covers one compiler of your choice. Additional compilers can be unlocked for a surcharge.

Qualification support

Your usage of StackAnalyzer for x86 can be qualified according to ISO 26262, DO-178B/C, and other safety standards. We offer Qualification Support Kits that help you simplify and automate your qualification process:

Base QSK
Optional compiler-specific add-on QSKs for:
- GCC 4.4.5
- GCC 4.9.2
- GCC 4.9.4

Compiler-specific QSKs for other compilers can be developed on request.

Recent improvements

Release 23.10:
- Support for the ENDBRANCH instruction (part of the Intel Control Flow Enforcement Technology CET) which is treated like a NOP
- Improved iterative decoding
Release 23.04:
- Improved automatic switch-table decoding
- Stack pointer guessing for flat and long mode
- Info messages about guessed/specified stack pointer and specified stack area
- Relaxed restrictions for assignments to segment registers in 32-bit flat mode and 64-bit long mode
- x86-64: Improved decoding of computed calls via function pointer arrays
- x86-64: Improved automatic decoding of two-dimensional function pointer arrays

System requirements

Windows: 64-bit Windows 10 or 11
Linux: 64-bit CentOS/RHEL 7 or compatible
4 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)
4 GB of disk space
The Linux version requires the libxcb-* family of libraries to be installed
Support for macOS High Sierra 10.13 or newer is possible on request for a surcharge

Free trial

You can try StackAnalyzer for free, on your own applications, for a period of 30 days. Your free-trial package includes online training and tech support.