Java Tutorial 2 – Java Virtual Machine
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.
With this background, refer the following video & learn the working and architecture of the Java Virtual Machine.
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why is Java both interpreted and complied 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.
Hence java is both compiled as well as interpreted language.
why is Java slow ?
The two main reasons behind the slowness of Java are
Dynamic Linking = Unlike C, linking is done at run-time , every time the program is run in Java.
However, the latest version of Java have addressed the performance bottlenecks to a great extent.