Java Finalize Method, Orthogonal Persistence and Transactions

Java is a popular, object oriented language that is runtime type safe. As such, it has been seen as an attractive basis for the implementation of orthogonally persistent systems by several research groups. Transactions are widely used as a means of enforcing consistency of the stable image in the face of concurrency, and have been adopted by most groups developing persistent Java systems. However, Java has a user definable finalize method which provides an asynchronous cleanup mechanism. The strict temporal semantics of transactions and the asynchrony of the finalize method seem at odds. This paper describes this conflict and provides a strategy for resolving the problem.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1998
• Where: POS
• Authors: John N. Zigman, Stephen Blackburn
• Keywords: Definable Finalize Method, Finalize Method, Persistent Java Systems, POS 1998, Programming Languages