#include <goto-programs/goto_functions.h>
#include <util/config/options.h>

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Functions
void	goto_loop_simplify (goto_functionst &goto_functions, const optionst &options)
	Detect and remove no-op loops at goto-program level, before symex.

Function Documentation

◆ goto_loop_simplify()

void goto_loop_simplify	(	goto_functionst &	goto_functions,
		const optionst &	options )

Detect and remove no-op loops at goto-program level, before symex.

A loop is removable when:

The body modifies only non-pointer local symbols.
The body contains no FUNCTION_CALL / ASSERT / ASSUME / non-back-edge GOTO.
All modified symbols are dead immediately after the loop (recognised via DEAD instructions emitted by the C frontend), so the loop has no observable effect on post-loop state.

When all conditions hold the entire loop (head IF, body, back-edge) is rewritten to SKIP. A subsequent remove_no_op call cleans the SKIPs.

Iterates to a fixed point so nested no-op loops collapse outward.

Enabled by default. Skipped only where a loop rewrite is unsound or destroys a needed signal:

–termination: dead-loop erasure (Path 1) and the self-loop rewrite are skipped — rewriting an infinite empty loop to assume(false) would mask the non-termination verdict under test. Constant-bound counter step recognition (Path 2) still runs (it only matches strictly- terminating, overflow-checked loops).
Coverage modes: skipped entirely (erasing loops drops branch points the instrumentation needs). The unwinding-assertion signal is intentionally not preserved: removing a loop suppresses the "needs more unwinding" failure, which is preferable to leaving the loop unverifiable.