Method and apparatus for dynamic selection of instructions for compiling using tags

• US 6,305,012 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Michael Wayne, Rothert, Douglas Scott, Beadle, Bruce Anthony, Paolini, Michael Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/204,516
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 717/5
• US Class Current: 717/148
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45516 Runtime code conversion or optimisation

Abstract

A method and apparatus in a computer for selectively compiling a set of instructions for an application using a compiler. A web page is received. The web page is parsed for a tag, wherein the tag includes an indication of whether the set of instructions are to be compiled. Responsive to a determination that the tag indicates that the set of instructions should be compiled, a set of instructions is sent to the compiler, wherein the compiler generates a set of native instructions for execution by the computer.

Claims

1. A process in a computer for selectively compiling a set of instructions for an application using a compiler, the process comprising the computer implemented steps of:

receiving a web page;

parsing the web page for a tag, wherein the tag includes an indication of whether the set of instructions are to be compiled; and

responsive to a determination that the tag indicates that the set of instructions should be compiled, sending the set of instructions to the compiler, wherein the compiler generates a set of native instructions for execution by the computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a virtual machine having an interpreter is located on the computer and further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the tag indicates that the set of instructions should not be compiled, sending the set of instructions to the interpreter, wherein the interpreter alternately decodes and executes each instruction within the set of instructions.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the set of instructions are a set of bytecodes.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the set bytecodes form a method.

5. The process of claim 2, wherein the compiler is a just in time compiler.

6. The process of claim 2, wherein the application is a Java applet.

7. A browser program for use in a computer comprising:

receiving means for receiving a document including program;

parsing means for parsing the document for an indication as to how the program is to be compiled; and

storage means, responsive to finding an indication by the parsing means, for storing the indication.

8. The browser program of claim 7 further comprising:

sending means, responsive to a determination that the indication indicates that the program should be compiled, for sending the program to the compiler, wherein the compiler generates a set of native instructions for execution by the computer.

9. The browser program of claim 8, wherein the document is a web page.

10. The browser program of claim 9, wherein the program is an applet.

11. The browser program of claim 10, wherein the compiler is a just in time compiler.

12. A data processing system in a computer for selectively compiling a set of instructions for an application using a compiler, the data processing system comprising the computer implemented steps of:

receiving means for receiving a web page;

parsing means for parsing the web page for a tag, wherein the tag includes an indication of whether the set of instruction are to be compiled; and

sending means, responsive to a determination that the tag indicates that the set of instructions should be compiled, for sending the set of instructions to the compiler, wherein the compiler generates a set of native instructions for execution by the computer.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein a virtual machine having an interpreter is located on the computer and further comprising:

sending means, responsive to a determination that the tag indicates that the set of instructions should not be compiled, for sending the set of instructions to the interpreter, wherein the interpreter alternately decodes and executes each instruction within the set of instructions.

14. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the set of instructions are a set of bytecodes.

15. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the set of bytecodes form a method.

16. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the compiler is a just in time compiler.

17. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the application is a Java applet.

18. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for selectively compiling a set of instructions for an application using a compiler, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving a web page;

second instructions for parsing the web page for a tag, wherein the tag includes an indication of whether the set of instruction are to be compiled; and

third instructions, responsive to a determination that the tag indicates that the set of instructions should be compiled, for sending the set of instructions to the compiler, wherein the compiler generates a set of native instructions for execution by the computer.

19. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a web page;

parse the web page for a tag, wherein the tag includes an indication of whether the set of instruction are to be compiled; and

send the set of instructions to the compiler in response to a determination that the tag indicates that the set of instructions should be compiled, wherein the compiler generates a set of native instructions for execution by the computer.

20. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a document including program;

parse the document for an indication as to how the program is to be compiled; and

store the indication in response to finding an indication during parsing of the document.