Mixed-mode Bytecode Execution

Modern high-performance virtual machines use dynamic compilation. There is a tension between compilation speed and code quality. We argue that a highly-optimizing compiler is best deployed with both a fast, less-optimizing compiler and an interpreter. We present measurements showing that such a system can achieve the same peak performance as a system with just the optimizing compiler, and startup costs similar to a system with just the interpreter and fast compiler. email address: [email protected] [email protected] © 2000 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved. The SML Technical Report Series is published by Sun Microsystems Laboratories, of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Printed in U.S.A. Unlimited copying without fee is permitted provided that the copies are not made nor distributed for direct commercial advantage, and credit to the source is given. Otherwise, no part of this work covered by copyright hereon may be reproduced in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or storage in an information retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. TRADEMARKS Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Java, Solaris, and HotSpot are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. For information regarding the SML Technical Report Series, email Jeanie Treichel, Editor-in-Chief .The entire technical report collection is available online at http://www.sun.com/research.