Optimizing Direct-threaded Code by Selective Inlining

Achieving good performance in bytecoded language interpreters is di cult without sacri cing both simplicity and portability. This is due to the complexity of dynamic translation (\just-in-time compilation") of bytecodes into native code, which is the mechanism employed universally by highperformance interpreters. We demonstrate that a few simple techniques make it possible to create highly-portable dynamic translators that can attain as much as 70% the performance of optimized C for certain numerical computations. Translators based on such techniques can o er respectable performance without sacri cing either the simplicity or portability of much slower \pure" bytecode interpreters.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1998
• Where: PLDI
• Authors: Ian Piumarta, Fabio Riccardi
• Keywords: Er Respectable Performance, Language Interpreters, PLDI 1998, Programming Languages, Sacri Cing