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shape-analysis

Analyze heap data structure shapes and pointer aliasing in C programs.

17|2|Updated Feb 16, 2026
Search Tags:#memory safety#program verification#shape analysis#pointer analysis#heap structures#separation logic
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/rainoftime/pl-skills --skill shape-analysis
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: shape-analysis
Source: https://github.com/rainoftime/pl-skills/tree/main/shape-analysis
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/rainoftime/pl-skills --skill shape-analysis

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires alias-and-points-to-analysis, separation-logician, and includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill addresses the complexity of understanding and verifying programs that manipulate pointer-rich data structures in memory, which are often difficult to reason about.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Shape Inference: Automatically determines the shape of heap data structures (e.g., lists, trees, cycles).
  • Pointer Aliasing: Tracks how different pointers refer to the same memory locations.
  • Use Case: Verifying the memory safety of a C program that heavily uses linked lists, ensuring no memory leaks or corruption occurs.

Quick Start

Analyze the shape of heap data structures in the provided C code.

Frequently Asked Questions about shape-analysis

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I verify memory safety in C programs that manipulate linked lists?▼

Shape analysis verifies memory safety by identifying heap data structure shapes like linked lists and cycles, tracking pointer aliasing to detect memory leaks and corruption in C programs.

What is shape analysis and how does it model heap configurations?▼

Shape analysis is a technique that abstractly models heap configurations to identify data structure shapes such as trees and lists, enabling precise reasoning about pointer-rich programs.

How do I track pointer aliasing relationships in heap data structures?▼

Tracking pointer aliasing is achieved through shape analysis, which monitors how different pointers refer to the same memory locations to enable precise reasoning about pointer-rich programs.

Can I use separation logic to analyze heap structures and detect cycles?▼

Yes, shape analysis leverages separation logic dependencies to analyze heap structures, automatically inferring shapes like cycles and trees to verify pointer-manipulating programs.

Do I need points-to analysis before performing shape analysis on heap structures?▼

Yes, points-to analysis is a required prerequisite dependency for shape analysis, providing the foundational pointer aliasing data needed to abstractly model heap configurations.

What are the limitations of shape analysis for optimizing heap traversal?▼

Shape analysis focuses on identifying data structure shapes and modeling heap configurations abstractly, meaning its precision depends on the accuracy of underlying points-to and separation logic analysis.

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