Advanced Software Tools for JavaScript Developers

Modern web-based software uses the JavaScript programming language together with the Node.js framework and extensively rely on freely available third-party software libraries that provide common functionality. These libraries are continuously improved, and new versions are released frequently. This massive reuse of libraries is essential to the productivity of software developers, however, the dependence on other people's libraries opens the door to security vulnerabilities and programming errors that may have severe consequences to the applications and end users. With current technology, it is extremely difficult for the software developers to adapt programs to breaking changes in libraries, avoid unintended breaking changes, and investigate the possible consequences of security vulnerabilities in libraries.The ERC project PAW has delivered a range of novel program analysis techniques that can help JavaScript programmers by automating these complex tasks. The analysis techniques have been implemented as prototype software tools, and preliminary experimental results have demonstrated that they are effective on real-world software. The proposed project, PAWTOOLS, aims to explore the commercial and innovative aspects of these scientific results, by further developing the prototype tools into commercial products, performing more extensive evaluations of their effectiveness, and engaging with potential users and industry partners.