Java virtual machine

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A Java Virtual Machine (JVM), originally developed by Sun Microsystems, is a virtual machine that executes Java bytecode. This code is most often generated by Java language compilers, although the JVM has also been targeted by compilers of other languages.

The JVM is a crucial component of the Java platform. The availability of JVMs on many types of hardware and software platforms enables Java to function both as middleware and a platform in its own right. Hence the expression "Write once, run anywhere."

Starting with J2SE 5.0, changes to the JVM specification have been developed under the Java Community Process as JSR 924Template:Ref. As of 2006, changes to specification to support changes proposed to the class file format (JSR 202Template:Ref) are being done as a maintenance release of JSR 924. The specification for the JVM is published in book formTemplate:Ref, known as "blue book". The preface states:

We intend that this specification should sufficiently document the Java Virtual Machine to make possible compatible clean-room implementations. Sun provides tests which verify the proper operation of implementations of the Java Virtual Machine.

Kaffe is an example of a clean-room Java implementation. Sun retains control over the Java trademark, which it uses to certify implementation suites as fully compatible with Sun's specification.

1 Execution environment
2 References
3 See also
4 External links

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Execution environment

Programs intended to run on a JVM must be compiled into a standardized portable binary format, which typically comes in the form of .class files. A program may consist of many classes, in which case, every class will be in a different file. For easier distribution of large programs, multiple class files may be packaged together in a .jar file.

This binary is then executed by the JVM runtime which carries out emulation of the JVM instruction set by interpreting it or by applying a just-in-time compiler (JIT) such as Sun's HotSpot.

The Java byte code is stack based. Therefore interpreter JVM's usually use a stack architecture. In contrast, JIT compilers usually compile the byte code into register based machine code. Each thread has its own stack and program counter.

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Bytecode verifier

The JVM verifies all bytecode before it is executed. This means that only a limited amount of bytecode sequences form valid programs, e.g. a JUMP (branch) instruction can only target an instruction within the same function. Because of this, the fact that JVM is a stack architecture does not imply a speed penalty for emulation on register based architectures when using a JIT compiler: in the face of the code-verified JVM architecture, it makes no difference to a JIT compiler whether it gets named imaginary registers or imaginary stack positions that need to be allocated to the target architectures registers. In fact, code verification makes the JVM different from a classic stack architecture whose efficient emulation with a JIT compiler is more complicated and typically carried out by a slower interpreter.

Code verification also ensures that arbitrary bit patterns cannot get used as an address. Memory protection is achieved without the need for an MMU. Thus, JVM is an efficient way of getting memory protection on simple silicon that has no MMU.

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Bytecodes

The JVM has instructions for the following groups of tasks

Load and store
Arithmetic
Type conversion
Object creation and manipulation
Operand stack management (push / pop)
Control transfer (branching)
Method invocation and return
Throwing exceptions

The aim is binary compatibility. Each particular host operating system needs its own implementation of the JVM and runtime. These JVMs interpret the byte code semantically the same way, but the actual implementation may be different. More complicated than just the emulation of bytecode is compatible and efficient implementation of the Java core API which has to be mapped to each host operating system.

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Secure execution of remote code

A virtual machine architecture allows very fine-grained control over the actions that code within the machine is permitted to take. This is designed to allow safe execution of untrusted code from remote sources, a model used most famously by Java applets. Applets run within a VM incorporated into a user's browser, executing code downloaded from a remote HTTP server. The remote code runs in a highly restricted "sandbox", which is designed to protect the user from misbehaving or malicious code. Publishers with sufficient financial resources can apply for a certificate with which to digitally sign applets as "safe", giving them permission to break out of the sandbox and access the local file system and network, presumably under user control.

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References

Template:Note JSR 924 – Specifies changes to the JVM specification starting with J2SE 5.0
Template:Note JSR 202 – Specifies a number of changes to the class file format
Template:Note The Java Virtual Machine Specification (the first and second editions are also available online)
Clarifications and Amendments to the Java Virtual Machine Specification, Second Edition includes list of changes to be made to support J2SE 5.0 and JSR 45
JSR 45 – Specifies changes to the class file format to support source-level debugging of languages such as JSP and SQLJ that are translated to Java