Our approach is different from other dynamic language JITs that I'm aware of. While there is lots of diversity out there, most other dynamic language JITs can be roughly categorized as either having a method-at-a-time strategy, or a tracing strategy. Our system is neither tracing jit nor method-at-a-time, but basic-block-at-a-time.
The systems that it has the most in common with are actually binary translators; e.g., VMware's software x86 hypervisor, or the Dynamo system. Those systems run basic block at a time to solve a number of problems; e.g., disambiguation of code and data. We're basic-block-at-a-time for a different reason: closure under type inference.
The systems that it has the most in common with are actually binary translators; e.g., VMware's software x86 hypervisor, or the Dynamo system. Those systems run basic block at a time to solve a number of problems; e.g., disambiguation of code and data. We're basic-block-at-a-time for a different reason: closure under type inference.