Method and apparatus for partial just in time compiling in a data processing system

A process for processing a set of instructions non specific to a data processing system and having an order of execution, the process comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

• examining instructions within the set of instructions in the order of execution to create a range of identified instructions;
• responsive to encountering a conditional flow instruction while examining the set of instructions, compiling the range of instructions to form a partially compiled set of instructions specific to the data processing system;
• and
• responsive to encountering a conditional flow instruction, selectively inserting branch monitors to handle a taken branch and a fall through branch for the conditional flow instruction;
• and
• executing the partially compiled set of instructions.

A process for just in time compiling a method including a plurality of bytecodes, the process comprising the computer implemented steps of:

• responsive to a determination that a method should be just in time compiled, compiling the method up to a conditional flow bytecode within the method to create a partially compiled method;
• executing the partially compiled method;
• and
• responsive to a determination to an end of the partially compiled method, indicating that compilation of the method has concluded.

A data processing system for just in time compiling a method including a set of bytecodes, the data processing system comprising:

• determination means, responsive to encountering bytecodes within the set of bytecodes that have not been compiled, for determining whether the method should be finalized;
• compiling means, responsive to an absence of a determination that the method should be finalized, for compiling the bytecodes in the method up to a conditional flow bytecode within the plurality of bytecodes to create complied instructions;
• and
• executing means for executing the compiled instructions.

A data processing system for processing a set of instructions non specific to a data processing system and having an order of execution, the data processing system comprising:

• examining means for examining instructions within the set of instructions in the order of execution to create a range of identified instructions,
• compiling means, responsive to encountering a conditional flow bytecode while examining the set of instructions, for compiling the range of instructions to form a partially compiled set of instructions specific to the data processing system;
• and
• selective means, responsive to encountering a conditional flow instruction, for selectively inserting branch monitors to handle a taken branch and a fall through branch for the conditional flow instruction;
• and
• executing means for executing the partially compiled set of instructions.

A data processing system for just in time compiling a method including a plurality of bytecodes, the data processing system comprising:

• compiling means, responsive to a determination that a method should be just in time compiled, for compiling the method up to a conditional flow bytecode within the method to create a partially compiled method;
• executing means for executing the partially compiled method;
• and
• indicating means, responsive to a determination to an end of the partially compiled method, for indicating that compilation of the method has concluded.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for just in time compiling a method including a set of bytecodes, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions, responsive to encountering bytecodes within the set of bytecodes that have not been compiled, for determining whether the method should be finalized;
• second instructions, responsive to an absence of a determination that the method should be finalized, for compiling the bytecodes in the method up to a conditional flow bytecode within the plurality of bytecodes to create complied instructions;
• and
• third instructions for executing the compiled instructions.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for processing a set of instructions non specific to a data processing system and having an order of execution, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for examining instructions within the set of instructions in the order of execution to create a range of identified instructions,
• second instructions, responsive to encountering a conditional flow bytecode while examining the set of instructions, for compiling the range of instructions to form a partially compiled set of instructions specific to the data processing system;
• and
• third instructions, responsive to encountering a conditional flow instruction, for selectively inserting branch monitors to handle a taken branch and a fall through branch for the conditional flow instruction;
• and
• fourth instructions for executing the partially compiled set of instructions.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for just in time compiling a method including a plurality of bytecodes, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions, responsive to a determination that a method should be just in time compiled, for compiling the method up to a conditional flow bytecode within the method to create a partially compiled method;
• second instructions for executing the partially compiled method;
• and
• third instructions, responsive to a determination to an end of the partially compiled method, for indicating that compilation of the method has concluded.