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Re: java bytecode considered bad
- To: jsturm at one-point dot com
- Subject: Re: java bytecode considered bad
- From: kenner at vlsi1 dot ultra dot nyu dot edu (Richard Kenner)
- Date: Wed, 21 Feb 01 08:59:09 EST
- Cc: gcc at gcc dot gnu dot org, rms at gnu dot org
BTW, Java bytecode isn't really a good example of an IR because it is
semantically much closer to source form (in fact gcj generates bytecode
directly from syntax trees) and most interesting optimizations (e.g.
method inlining) cannot be performed without breaking verification. It is
probably better described as a form of obfuscated source.
To me, I think this is the key point, and why I disagree with RMS.
Although I understand his concern in general, I simply don't think that such
an approach is going to yield acceptably-efficient code and *certainly*
would not be a path that would allow one to take advantage of GCC's
optimization with proprietary front-ends or to use proprietary optimizers
with GCC's front ends except in very narrow circumstances.
I see JBC as an *interoperability* issue, not an efficienty one. Quite the
opposite, actually.