Method and apparatus for enabling optimistic program execution

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for enabling optimistic program execution, wherein the method comprises:

• encountering a bounded-execution block while executing a program, wherein the bounded-execution block includes a primary path and a secondary path;
• executing the bounded-execution block;
• after executing the bounded-execution block, determining whether executing instructions on the primary path is preferable to executing instructions on the secondary path based on information gathered while executing the bounded-execution block;
• and
• if not, dynamically modifying the instructions of the bounded-execution block so that during subsequent passes through the bounded-execution block, the instructions on the secondary path are executed instead of the instructions on the primary path.

An apparatus that enables optimistic program execution, comprising:

• an program-execution mechanism configured to execute a program;
• wherein if the program-execution mechanism encounters a bounded-execution block while executing a program, the program-execution mechanism is configured to execute the bounded-execution block, wherein the bounded-execution block includes a primary path and a secondary path;
• wherein after executing the bounded-execution block, the program-execution mechanism is configured to:
• determine whether executing instructions on the primary path is preferable to executing instructions on the secondary path based on information gathered while executing the bounded-execution block;
• and
• if not, the program-execution mechanism is configured to dynamically modify the instructions of the bounded-execution block so that during subsequent passes through the bounded-execution block, the instructions on the secondary path are executed instead of the instructions on the primary path.