Performance Optimization of Embedded Java Applications by a C/Java-hybrid Architecture

We present a software architecture for Java VMs and APIs that significantly increases the execution performance of Java applications on devices with considerable storage limitations. While present embedded Java devices usually implement standard API functions entirely in Java, we propose a shift of paradigm. By using a native programming language like C to implement the whole system library and by using a high-level C-to-Java interface, we obtain embedded Java applications running almost at the speed of fully native applications. Moreover, a drastic reduction of memory can be achieved. Thus, Java runs efficiently on low-cost devices with a memory size of less than 2 MB. Besides, our technique requires no changes of Java user applications.