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Working of Java Virtual Machine (JVM) & Its Architecture: C Code Compilation and Execution Process

The document discusses the working of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and its architecture. It explains the compilation and execution process in Java compared to C. In Java, source code is compiled to bytecode, not machine code like in C. The bytecode is executed by the JVM, which just-in-time compiles the bytecode to native machine code. The JVM handles memory management, security, and execution of the Java bytecode.

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164 views9 pages

Working of Java Virtual Machine (JVM) & Its Architecture: C Code Compilation and Execution Process

The document discusses the working of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and its architecture. It explains the compilation and execution process in Java compared to C. In Java, source code is compiled to bytecode, not machine code like in C. The bytecode is executed by the JVM, which just-in-time compiles the bytecode to native machine code. The JVM handles memory management, security, and execution of the Java bytecode.

Uploaded by

Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Working of Java Virtual Machine(JVM) & its

Architecture
In order to write and execute a software program you need the following

1) Editor – To type your program into, a notepad could be used for this

2) Compiler – To convert your high language program into native machine code

3) Linker – To combine different program files reference in your main program


together.

4) Loader – To load the files from your secondary storage device like Hard Disk,
Flash Drive , CD into RAM for execution. The loading is automatically done when
your execute your code.

5) Execution – Actual execution of the code which is handled by your OS &


processor.

C code Compilation and Execution process


To understand the Java compiling process in Java. Let's first take a quick look to
compiling and linking process in C.

Suppose in the main, you have called two function f1 and f2. The main function is
stored in file a1.c.

Function f1 is stored in a file a1.c

Function f1 is stored in a file a2.c


Function f2 is stored in a file a3.c

All these files, i.e., a1.c, a2.c, and a3.c, is fed to the compiler. Whose output is the
corresponding object files which is the machine code.
The next step is integrating all these object files into a single .exe file with the help of
linker. The linker will club all these files together and produces the .exe file.
During program run a loader program will load a.exe into the RAM for the execution.

Java code compilation and execution in Java VM


Let's look at the process for JAVA. In your main you have two methods f1 and f2.

 main method is stored in file a1.java


 f1 is stored in file as a2.java
 f2 is stored in file as a3.java
The compiler will compile the three files and produces a corresponding .class file
which consists of BYTE code. Unlike C, no linking is done.

The Java VM or Java Virtual Machine resides on the RAM. During execution, using
the class loader the class files are brought on the RAM. The BYTE code is verified
for any security breaches.
Next, the execution engine will convert the Bytecode into Native machine code. This
is just in time compiling. It is one of the main reason why Java is comparatively slow.

.
NOTE: JIT or Just-in-time compiler is the part of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It
interprets part of the Byte Code that has similar functionality at the same time.

What is JVM?
JVM stands for Java Virtual Machine. It is the engine that drives the Java Code. It
converts Java bytecode into machines language.

 In other programming language, the compiler produces code for a particular


system. But Java compiler produces code for a Virtual Machine.
 In JVM, Java code is compiled into bytecode. This bytecode gets interpreted
on different machines
 Between host system and Java source, Bytecode is an intermediary
language.
 JVM is responsible for allocating a memory space.

Why is Java both interpreted and compiled language?


 Programming languages are classifies as
 Higher Level Language Ex. C++ , Java
 Middle Level Languages Ex. C
 Low Level Language Ex Assembly
 finally the lowest level as the Machine Language.

A compiler is a program which converts a program from one level of language to


another. Example conversion of C++ program into machine code.

The java compiler is a convert's high level java code into bytecode (which is also a
type of machine code).

A interpreter is a program which converts a program at one level to another


programming language at the same level. Example conversion of Java program into
C++

In Java , the Just In Time Code generator converts the bytecode into the native
machine code which are at the same programming levels.
Bootstrap The Bootstrap Classloader looks for runtime classes in rt.jar and internationalization classes
in i18n.jar.
Extension The Installed Extensions Classloader looks for classes in JAR files in the lib/ext directory of
the JRE.
System The System Classpath Classloader looks for classes in JAR files on paths specified by the
system property java.class.path. To have a class loaded by the System Classloader, you must
include the relevant directory in the class path. This means either in KJS (on Unix), the
environment (on Unix or NT), or in the
SoftwareiPlanetApplication Server6.0JavaClasspath entry (on NT.)
Module The iPlanet Application Server Module Classloader looks for classes in all directories under
<iPlanet Application Server install>/ias/APPS/modules/*.
Application Each registered J2EE application is loaded by its own class loader, which looks for classes
under
<iPlanet Application Server install>/ias/APPS/<app_name> including all subdirectories.
 

The Java Platform architecture 


 

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