Module-by-module verification

A method for verifying instructions of a module of a computer program during linking, the method comprising:

• determining whether a first module which is loaded has passed pre-verification one-module-at-a-time;
• reading a pre-verification constraint on a constrained module, if any, based on a determination that the first module has passed pre-verification;
• determining whether the constrained module is loaded based on a determination that any pre-verification constraint is read;
• enforcing the pre-verification constraint based on a determination that the constrained module is loaded;
• and
• loading the constrained module and enforcing the pre-verification constraint based on a determination that the constrained module is not loaded.

A pre-verification apparatus for verifying a module one-module-at-a-time, the apparatus comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium for storing a module of a computer program and a constraint;
• a processor configured to:
• for each instruction in a first module, determine whether an instruction in the first module requires information in a referenced module different than the first module to verify the instruction, write a pre-verification constraint for the referenced module without requiring access to the referenced module if the information is required, and perform any intra-module check required for the instruction after the pre-verification constraint has been written, wherein an intra-module check is performed, if needed, when the information is not required;
• and provide a message when an the instruction of the module fails to satisfy any intra-module check.

A signal transmission comprising:

• a carrier wave on a communications line;
• and
• signals indicative of computer controlling commands, transmitted using the carrier wave, that for each instruction in a first module, determine whether an instruction in the first module requires information in a referenced module different than the first module to verify the instruction, write a pre-verification constraint for the referenced module without requiring access to the referenced module if the information is required, and perform any intra-module check required for the instruction after the pre-verification constraint has been written, wherein an intra-module check is performed, if needed, when the information is not required;
• and that provide a message when an the instruction of the module fails to satisfy any intra-module check.

A pre-verification system comprising:

• a network;
• a computer readable storage medium connected to the network for storing a module of a computer program;
• a memory connected to the network into which a module is loaded;
• a processor connected to the network, configured to:
• for each instruction in a first module, determine whether an instruction in the first module requires information in a referenced module different than the first module to verify the instruction, write a pre-verification constraint for the referenced module without requiring access to the referenced module if the information is required, and perform any intra-module check required for the instruction after the pre-verification constraint has been written, wherein an intra-module check is performed, if needed, when the information is not required;
• and provide a message when an the instruction of the module fails to satisfy any intra-module check, whereby pre-verification is performed one-module-at-a-time;
• and
• a processor connected to the network configured to determine whether a first module which is loaded has passed pre-verification one-module-at-a-time, to read a pre-verification constraint on a constrained module, if any, based on a determination that the first module has passed pre-verification, to determine whether the constrained module is loaded based on a determination that any pre-verification constraint is read, to enforce the pre-verification constraint if the constrained module is already loaded, and to load the constrained module and enforce the pre-verification constraint based on a determination that the constrained module is not loaded,
• whereby verification is performed one-module-at-a-time before linking with reduced verification during linking.