Updated README

README.md

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-
 # Selfpatch SLR
 
 Selfpatch SLR (SPSLR) is a research prototype that implements **structure layout randomization (SLR)** for C programs on **x86_64 Linux**.
 
-The system instruments compilation to collect metadata about structure layouts and accesses, compiles that metadata into a patch program before linking, embeds that program into the final binary, and applies randomized layouts at runtime through a self-patching mechanism.
+The system instruments compilation to collect metadata about structure layouts and accesses, compiles that metadata into a descriptor data section before linking, embeds that data into the final binary, and applies randomized layouts at runtime through a self-patching mechanism.
 
 ---
 
@@ -13,10 +12,10 @@ SPSLR introduces controlled randomness into the in-memory layout of C structures
 
 The workflow consists of:
 
-1. Collecting structure and access metadata during compilation  
+1. Collecting structure and access metadata during compilation
-2. Compiling metadata into a patch program before linking  
+2. Compiling metadata into a descriptor data section before linking
-3. Embedding the patch program into the executable  
+3. Embedding the descriptor data into the executable
-4. Executing the patch program at startup to randomize layouts and update references  
+4. Applying layout randomization and updating references at startup
 
 ---
 
@@ -29,25 +28,28 @@ SPSLR consists of three main components:
 The `spslr_pinpoint` plugin runs during compilation and emits `.spslr` metadata files for each compilation unit.
 
 It tracks:
-- structure definitions  
+
-- field accesses  
+* structure definitions
-- relevant data references  
+* field accesses
+* relevant data references
 
 The plugin requires two arguments:
-- `metadir` — output directory for metadata  
+
-- `srcroot` — source root directory  
+* `metadir` — output directory for metadata
+* `srcroot` — source root directory
 
 ---
 
 ### `patchcompile` — pre-link patch compiler
 
-The `spslr_patchcompile` tool consumes `.spslr` metadata files and produces an assembly file containing the SPSLR patch program.
+The `spslr_patchcompile` tool consumes `.spslr` metadata files and produces an assembly file containing the SPSLR descriptor data section.
 
 Responsibilities:
-- merge metadata across compilation units  
+
-- group compatible targets  
+* merge metadata across compilation units
-- generate patch instructions  
+* group compatible targets
-- emit an assembly representation of the patch program  
+* generate descriptors for targets, data references, and instruction accesses
+* emit an assembly representation of the descriptor data section
 
 The generated assembly is assembled into an object file and linked into the final executable.
 
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ The generated assembly is assembled into an object file and linked into the fina
 
 ### `selfpatch` — runtime patcher
 
-The `spslr_selfpatch` static library executes the embedded patch program at runtime.
+The `spslr_selfpatch` static library applies runtime transformations based on the embedded descriptor data.
 
 It exposes a single entry point:
 
@@ -64,20 +66,21 @@ void spslr_selfpatch(void);
 ```
 
 At startup, this function:
-- loads the embedded patch program  
+
-- randomizes structure layouts  
+* locates and parses the embedded descriptor data
-- patches instruction operands and data references  
+* randomizes structure layouts
-- finalizes execution before normal program logic continues  
+* patches instruction operands and data references
+* finalizes execution before normal program logic continues
 
 ---
 
 ## Repository Structure
 
-- `pinpoint/` — GCC plugin for metadata extraction  
+* `pinpoint/` — GCC plugin for metadata extraction
-- `patchcompile/` — pre-link patch compiler  
+* `patchcompile/` — pre-link patch compiler
-- `selfpatch/` — runtime patch execution library  
+* `selfpatch/` — runtime patch execution library
-- `subject/` — example target demonstrating integration  
+* `subject/` — example target demonstrating integration
-- `docs/` — additional documentation and notes  
+* `docs/` — additional documentation and notes
 
 ---
 
@@ -85,12 +88,12 @@ At startup, this function:
 
 ### Platform
 
-- x86_64 Linux  
+* x86_64 Linux
 
 ### Toolchain
 
-- `gcc-16`  
+* `gcc-16`
-- `g++-16`  
+* `g++-16`
 
 The repository includes GCC patch files used to preserve structure-access expressions required by SPSLR metadata collection.
 
@@ -147,10 +150,11 @@ make -j$(nproc)
 ```
 
 This builds:
-- `spslr_pinpoint`  
+
-- `spslr_patchcompile`  
+* `spslr_pinpoint`
-- `spslr_selfpatch`  
+* `spslr_patchcompile`
-- the example `subject` executable  
+* `spslr_selfpatch`
+* the example `subject` executable
 
 ---
 
@@ -158,15 +162,16 @@ This builds:
 
 To integrate SPSLR into a project:
 
-1. Compile all source files using the `spslr_pinpoint` plugin  
+1. Compile all source files using the `spslr_pinpoint` plugin
-2. Provide `metadir` and `srcroot` plugin arguments  
+2. Provide `metadir` and `srcroot` plugin arguments
-3. Collect generated `.spslr` metadata files  
+3. Collect generated `.spslr` metadata files
-4. Run `spslr_patchcompile` to produce a patch program assembly file  
+4. Run `spslr_patchcompile` to produce descriptor data assembly
-5. Assemble the generated assembly into an object file  
+5. Assemble the generated assembly into an object file
 6. Link the object together with:
-   - compiled program objects  
+
-   - `spslr_selfpatch`  
+   * compiled program objects
-7. Call `spslr_selfpatch()` early in program startup  
+   * `spslr_selfpatch`
+7. Call `spslr_selfpatch()` early in program startup
 
 ---
 
@@ -174,11 +179,11 @@ To integrate SPSLR into a project:
 
 The `subject` target demonstrates the full pipeline:
 
-- compiles sources with the plugin  
+* compiles sources with the plugin
-- generates metadata  
+* generates metadata
-- builds the SPSLR patch program  
+* builds the SPSLR descriptor data section
-- links the program into the executable  
+* links the data into the executable
-- calls `spslr_selfpatch()` at the start of `main()`  
+* calls `spslr_selfpatch()` at the start of `main()`
 
 The example performs operations on randomized structures and accesses both local and global data after patching.
 
@@ -186,9 +191,9 @@ The example performs operations on randomized structures and accesses both local
 
 ## Limitations
 
-- Platform support: **x86_64 Linux**  
+* Platform support: **x86_64 Linux**
-- Requires a **custom GCC 16 toolchain**  
+* Requires a **custom GCC 16 toolchain**
-- Structure layout randomization alters standard memory layout assumptions  
+* Structure layout randomization alters standard memory layout assumptions
 
 Code that relies on fixed structure layouts, manual offset calculations, or layout-dependent casting may not behave correctly under SPSLR.