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

JIT compilation

JIT compilation stands as a pivotal component in the JVM, revolutionizing the execution of Java applications. Unlike traditional ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation, where the entire code is translated into machine code before execution, JIT compilation occurs dynamically during runtime. This on-the-fly translation transforms Java bytecode into native machine code just before execution, optimizing performance and adaptability for the machine it runs on, considering which parts of the code are used the most and need to be optimized. This dynamic optimization process ensures that the JVM focuses on the most frequently executed portions of the code, effectively enhancing performance and adaptability to the specific runtime conditions.

The adoption of JIT compilation within the JVM is rooted in the pursuit of striking a balance between portability and performance. By interpreting bytecode initially and then selectively compiling frequently executed code paths into native...