ABSTRACT SYNTAX TREE TRANSFORMATION

The transformation of an abstract syntax tree of a dynamic language program at evaluation time in a manner that is helpful for evaluating the program. For instance, the abstract syntax tree may be altered such that metadata is attached to variables generated during execution. The tree might also be altered to force code to execute faster or more likely than would occur otherwise. This might occur so that the dynamic language program might be executed at authoring time up to a halt point that represents a point of interest to the author. Without transformation of the abstract syntax tree, the execution might have not proceeded to the halt point or might have taken a long time. Once at the halt point, the program state at the halt point may be evaluated, allowing the program to perform functions such as generating an available symbol set at the halt point.