Book Image

Mastering the Java Virtual Machine

By : Otavio Santana
Book Image

Mastering the Java Virtual Machine

By: Otavio Santana

Overview of this book

Mastering the Java Virtual Machine is a comprehensive guide that will take you into the heart of Java programming, guiding you through the intricate workings of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and equipping you with essential skills to become a proficient Java developer. You’ll start by understanding the JVM, exploring its architecture and how it executes Java code. Through detailed explanations and real-world examples, you’ll gain a deep understanding of JVM internals, enabling you to write efficient and optimized Java applications. As you progress, you’ll delve into memory management and execution, unraveling the complexities of heap and stack management, garbage collection, and memory profiling. You'll learn how memory is allocated and reclaimed in the JVM, as well as how to optimize memory usage and identify performance bottlenecks in your applications. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to create Java programs that are not only robust but also highly performant. By the end of this book, you’ll have the skills needed to excel in Java programming, writing efficient, maintainable code.
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
Free Chapter
1
Part 1: Understanding the JVM
5
Part 2: Memory Management and Execution
9
Part 3: Alternative JVMs
12
Part 4: Advanced Java Topics

Execution Engine

In the intricate landscape of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), the execution engine takes center stage, playing a pivotal role in interpreting bytecode and executing just-in-time (JIT) compilation for performance optimization. Bytecode, the intermediary language between Java source code and the JVM, undergoes interpretation as the execution engine dynamically translates it into native machine code during program execution. The stack-based execution model employed by the JVM manipulates an operand stack, pushing and popping operands as bytecode instructions are interpreted. While bytecode interpretation ensures platform independence, it cannot consistently deliver peak performance due to an additional abstraction layer.

To address performance challenges, the JVM incorporates JIT compilation. This strategic optimization technique identifies frequently executed code segments, or hotspots, and dynamically compiles them into native machine code at runtime. By selectively...