CHAPTER 7

Compiling for the Java Virtual Machine

The Java Virtual Machine is designed to support the Java programming language. Sun's JDK 1.0.2 release of the Java programming language contains both a compiler from Java source code to the Java Virtual Machine's instruction set (javac) and a runtime system that implements the Java Virtual Machine itself (java). Understanding how one Java compiler utilizes the Java Virtual Machine is useful to the prospective Java compiler writer, as well as to one trying to understand the operation of the Java Virtual Machine.

Although this chapter concentrates on compiling Java code, the Java Virtual Machine does not assume that the instructions it executes were generated from Java source code. While there have been a number of efforts aimed at compiling other languages to the Java Virtual Machine, version 1.0.2 of the Java Virtual Machine was not designed to support a wide range of languages. Some languages may be hosted fairly directly by the Java Virtual Machine. Others may support constructs that only can be implemented inefficiently.

We are considering bounded extensions to future versions of the Java Virtual Machine to support a wider range of languages more directly. Please contact us at jvm@javasoft.com if you have interest in this effort.

Note that the term "compiler" is sometimes used when referring to a translator from the instruction set of a Java Virtual Machine to the instruction set of a specific CPU. One example of such a translator is a "Just In Time" (JIT) code generator, which generates platform-specific instructions only after Java Virtual Machine code has been loaded into the Java Virtual Machine. This chapter does not address issues associated with code generation, only those associated with compiling from Java source code to Java Virtual Machine instructions.

7.1 Format of Examples

The format of the examples should be familiar to anyone who has read assembly code. Each instruction takes the form

    <index> <opcode> [<operand1> [<operand2>...]] [<comment>]

8

bipush 100

// Push constant 100

Some of the material in the comments is emitted by javap; the rest is supplied by the authors. The <index> prefacing each instruction may be used as the target of a control transfer instruction. For instance, a goto 8 instruction transfers control to the instruction at index 8. Note that the actual operands of Java Virtual Machine control transfer instructions are offsets from the addresses of the opcodes of those instructions; these operands are displayed by javap, and are shown in this chapter, as more easily read offsets into their methods.

We preface an operand representing a constant pool index with a hash sign, and follow the instruction by a comment identifying the constant pool item referenced, as in

10

ldc #1

// Float 100.000000

or

9

invokevirtual #4

// Method Example.addTwo(II)I

For the purposes of this chapter, we do not worry about specifying details such as operand sizes.

7.2 Use of Constants, Local Variables, and Control Constructs

The spin method simply spins around an empty for loop 100 times:

    void spin() {

    	int i;

    	for (i = 0; i < 100; i++) {

    	}

    }

Method void spin()

0	iconst_0	// Push int constant 0
1	istore_1	// Store into local 1 (i=0)
2	goto 8	// First time through don't increment
5	iinc 1 1	// Increment local 1 by 1 (i++)
8	iload_1	// Push local 1 (i)
9	bipush 100	// Push int constant (100)
11	if_icmplt 5	// Compare, loop if < (i < 100)
14	return	// Return void when done





The Java Virtual Machine is stack-oriented, with most operations taking one or more operands from the operand stack of the Java Virtual Machine's current frame, or pushing results back onto the operand stack. A new frame is created each time a Java method is invoked, and with it is created a new operand stack and set of local variables for use by that method (see Section 3.6, "Frames"). At any one point of the computation, there are thus likely to be many frames and equally many operand stacks per thread of control, corresponding to many nested method invocations. Only the operand stack in the current frame is active.

The instruction set of the Java Virtual Machine distinguishes operand types by using distinct bytecodes for operations on its various data types. The method spin only operates on values of type int. The instructions in its compiled code chosen to operate on typed data (iconst_0, istore_1, iinc, iload_1, if_icmplt) are all specialized for type int.

The two constants in spin, 0 and 100, are pushed onto the operand stack using two different instructions. The 0 is pushed using an iconst_0 instruction, one of the family of iconst_<i> instructions. The 100 is pushed using a bipush instruction, which fetches the value it pushes as an immediate operand.

The Java Virtual Machine frequently takes advantage of the likelihood of certain operands (int constants -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in the case of the iconst_<i> instructions) by making those operands implicit in the opcode. Because the iconst_0 instruction knows it is going to push an int 0, iconst_0 does not need to store an operand to tell it what value to push, nor does it need to fetch or decode an operand. Compiling the push of 0 as bipush 0 would have been correct, but would have made the compiled code for spin one byte longer. A simple virtual machine would have also spent additional time fetching and decoding the explicit operand each time around the loop. Use of implicit operands makes compiled code more compact and efficient.

The int i in spin is stored as Java Virtual Machine local variable 1. Because most Java Virtual Machine instructions operate on values popped from the operand stack rather than directly on local variables, instructions that transfer values between local variables and the operand stack are common in code compiled for the Java Virtual Machine. These operations also have special support in the instruction set. In spin, values are transferred to and from local variables using the istore_1 and iload_1 instructions, each of which implicitly operates on local variable 1. The istore_1 instruction pops an int from the operand stack and stores it in local variable 1. The iload_1 instruction pushes the value in local variable 1 onto the operand stack.

The use (and reuse) of local variables is the responsibility of the compiler writer. The specialized load and store instructions should encourage the compiler writer to reuse local variables as much as is feasible. The resulting code is faster, more compact, and uses less space in the Java frame.

Certain very frequent operations on local variables are catered to specially by the Java Virtual Machine. The iinc instruction increments the contents of a local variable by a one-byte signed value. The iinc instruction in spin increments the first local variable (its first operand) by 1 (its second operand). The iinc instruction is very handy when implementing looping constructs.

The for loop of spin is accomplished mainly by these instructions:

5	iinc 1 1	// Increment local 1 by 1 (i++)
8	iload_1	// Push local 1 (i)
9	bipush 100	// Push int constant (100)
11	if_icmplt 5	// Compare, loop if < (i < 100)

The bipush instruction pushes the value 100 onto the operand stack as an int, then the if_icmplt instruction pops that value off the stack and compares it against i. If the comparison succeeds (the Java variable i is less than 100), control is transferred to index 5 and the next iteration of the for loop begins. Otherwise, control passes to the instruction following the if_icmplt.

If the spin example had used a data type other than int for the loop counter, the compiled code would necessarily change to reflect the different data type. For instance, if instead of an int the spin example uses a double:

    void dspin() {

    	double i;

    	for (i = 0.0; i < 100.0; i++) {

    	              ;	      // Loop body is empty

    	}

    }

Method void dspin()

0	dconst_0	// Push double constant 0.0
1	dstore_1	// Store into locals 1 and 2 (i = 0.0)
2	goto 9	// First time through don't increment
5	dload_1	// Push double onto operand stack
6	dconst_1	// Push double constant 1 onto stack
7	dadd	// Add; there is no dinc instruction
8	dstore_1	// Store result in locals 1 and 2
9	dload_1	// Push local
10	ldc2_w #4	// Double 100.000000
13	dcmpg	// There is no if_dcmplt instruction
14	iflt 5	// Compare, loop if < (i < 100.000000)
17	return	// Return void when done





The instructions that operate on typed data are now specialized for type double. (The ldc2_w instruction will be discussed later in this chapter.)

Note that in dspin, double values use two words of storage, whether on the operand stack or in local variables. This is also the case for values of type long. As another example:

    double doubleLocals(double d1, double d2) {

    	return d1 + d2;

    }

Method double doubleLocals(double,double)

0	dload_1	// First argument in locals 1 and 2
1	dload_3	// Second argument in locals 3 and 4
2	dadd	// Each also uses two words on stack
3	dreturn





It is always necessary to access the words of a two-word type in pairs and in their original order. For instance, the words of the double values in doubleLocals must never be manipulated individually.

The Java Virtual Machine's opcode size of one byte results in its compiled code being very compact. However, one-byte opcodes also mean that the Java Virtual Machine's instruction set must stay small. As a compromise, the Java Virtual Machine does not provide equal support for all data types: it is not completely orthogonal (see Table 3.1, "Type support in the Java Virtual Machine instruction set"). In the case of dspin, note that there is no if_dcmplt instruction in the Java Virtual Machine instruction set. Instead, the comparison must be performed using a dcmpg followed by an iflt, requiring one more Java Virtual Machine instruction than the int version of spin.

The Java Virtual Machine provides the most direct support for data of type int. This is partly because the Java Virtual Machine's operand stack and local variables are one word wide, and a word is guaranteed to hold values of all integral types up to and including an int value. It is also motivated by the frequency of int data in typical Java programs.

Smaller integral types have less direct support. There are no byte, char, or short versions of the store, load, or add instructions, for instance. Here is the spin example written using a short:

    void sspin() {

    	short i;

    	for (i = 0; i < 100; i++) {

    	    ;		// Loop body is empty

    	}

    }

It must be compiled for the Java Virtual Machine using instructions operating on another type, most likely int, converting between short and int values as necessary to ensure that the results of operations on short data stay within the appropriate range:

method void sspin()

0	iconst_0
1	istore_1
2	goto 10
5	iload_1	// The short is stored in an int
6	iconst_1
7	iadd
8	i2s	// Truncate int to short
9	istore_1
10	iload_1
11	bipush 100
13	if_icmplt 5
16	return





The lack of direct support for byte, char, and short types in the Java Virtual Machine is not particularly painful, because values of those types are internally promoted to int (byte and short are sign-extended to int, char is zero-extended). Operations on byte, char, and short data can thus be done using int instructions. The only additional cost is that of truncating the values of int operations to valid ranges.

The long and floating-point types have an intermediate level of support in the Java Virtual Machine, lacking only the full complement of conditional control transfer instructions.

7.3 Arithmetic

    int align2grain(int i, int grain) {

    	return ((i + grain-1) & ~(grain-1));

    }

5	iload_2	// Load grain onto operand stack
6	iconst_1	// Load constant 1 onto operand stack
7	isub	// Subtract; push result onto stack
8	iconst_m1	// Load constant -1 onto operand stack
9	ixor	// Do XOR; push result onto stack

First grain-1 is calculated using the contents of local variable 2 and an immediate int value 1. These operands are popped from the operand stack and their difference pushed back onto the operand stack, where it is immediately available for use as one operand of the ixor instruction (recall that ~x == -1^x). Similarly, the result of the ixor instruction becomes an operand for the subsequent iand instruction.

The code for the entire method follows:

Method int align2grain(int,int)

0	iload_1
1	iload_2
2	iadd
3	iconst_1
4	isub
5	iload_2
6	iconst_1
7	isub
8	iconst_m1
9	ixor
10	iand
11	ireturn





7.4 Accessing the Constant Pool

The ldc and ldc_w instructions are used to access one-word values in the constant pool (including instances of class String), and ldc2_w is used to access two-word values. The ldc_w instruction is used in place of ldc only when there is a large number of constant pool items and a larger index is needed to access an item. The ldc2_w instruction is used to access all two-word items; there is no non-wide variant.

Integral constants of types byte, char, or short, as well as small int values, may be compiled using the bipush, sipush, or iconst_<i> instructions, as seen earlier (§7.2). Certain small floating-point constants may be compiled using the fconst_<f> and dconst_<d> instructions.

In all of these cases compilation is straightforward. For instance, the constants for

    void useManyNumeric() {

    	int i = 100;

    	int j = 1000000;

    	long l1 = 1;

    	long l2 = 0xffffffff;

    	double d = 2.2;

    	...do some calculations...

    }

Method void useManyNumeric()

0	bipush 100	// Push a small int with bipush
2	istore_1
3	ldc #1	// Integer 1000000; a larger int
		// value uses ldc
5	istore_2
6	lconst_1	// A tiny long value uses short, fast lconst_1
7	lstore_3
8	ldc2_w #6	// A long 0xffffffff (that is, an int -1); any
		// long constant value can be pushed by ldc2_w
11	lstore 5
13	ldc2_w #8	// Double 2.200000; so do
		// uncommon double values
16	dstore 7





    ...do those calculations...

7.5 More Control Examples

As a further example, a while loop is compiled in an obvious way, although the specific control transfer instructions made available by the Java Virtual Machine vary by data type. As usual, there is more support for data of type int:

    void whileInt() {

    	int i = 0;

    	while (i < 100) {

    	    i++;

    	}

    }

Method void whileInt()

0	iconst_0
1	istore_1
2	goto 8
5	iinc 1 1
8	iload_1
9	bipush 100
11	if_icmplt 5
14	return





Note that the test of the while statement (implemented using the if_icmplt instruction) is at the bottom of the Java Virtual Machine code for the loop. (This was also the case in the spin examples earlier.) The test being at the bottom of the loop forces the use of a goto instruction to get to the test prior to the first iteration of the loop. If that test fails, and the loop body is never entered, this extra instruction is wasted. However, while loops are typically used when their body is expected to be run, often for many iterations. For subsequent iterations, putting the test at the bottom of the loop saves a Java Virtual Machine instruction each time around the loop: if the test were at the top of the loop, the loop body would need a trailing goto instruction to get back to the top.

Control constructs involving other data types are compiled in similar ways, but must use the instructions available for those data types. This leads to somewhat less efficient code because more Java Virtual Machine instructions are needed:

    void whileDouble() {

    	double i = 0.0;

    	while (i < 100.1) {

    	    i++;

    	}

    }

Method void whileDouble()

0	dconst_0
1	dstore_1
2	goto 9
5	dload_1
6	dconst_1
7	dadd
8	dstore_1
9	dload_1
10	ldc2_w #4	// Double 100.100000
13	dcmpg	// To test we have to use
14	iflt 5	// two instructions...
17	return





Each floating-point type has two comparison instructions: fcmpl and fcmpg for type float, and dcmpl and dcmpg for type double. The variants differ only in their treatment of NaN. NaN is unordered, so all floating-point comparisons fail if either of their operands is NaN. The compiler chooses the variant of the comparison instruction for the appropriate type that produces the same result whether the comparison fails on non-NaN values or encounters a NaN. For instance:

    int lessThan100(double d) {

    	if (d < 100.0) {

    	    return 1;				

    	} else {

    	    return -1;				

    	}

    }

Method int lessThan100(double)

0	dload_1
1	ldc2_w #4	// Double 100.000000
4	dcmpg	// Push 1 if d is NaN or d > 100.000000;
		// push 0 if d == 100.000000
5	ifge 10	// Branch on 0 or 1
8	iconst_1
9	ireturn
10	iconst_m1
11	ireturn





If d is not NaN and is less than 100.0, the dcmpg instruction pushes an int -1 onto the operand stack, and the ifge instruction does not branch. Whether d is greater than 100.0 or is NaN, the dcmpg instruction pushes an int 1 onto the operand stack, and the ifge branches. If d is equal to 100.0, the dcmpg instruction pushes an int 0 onto the operand stack, and the ifge branches.

The dcmpl instruction achieves the same effect if the comparison is reversed:

    int greaterThan100(double d) {

    	if (d > 100.0) {

    	    return 1;			

    	} else {

    	    return -1;			

    	}

    }

Method int greaterThan100(double)

0	dload_1
1	ldc2_w #4	// Double 100.000000
4	dcmpl	// Push -1 if d is Nan or d < 100.000000;
		// push 0 if d == 100.000000
5	ifle 10	// Branch on 0 or -1
8	iconst_1
9	ireturn
10	iconst_m1
11	ireturn





Once again, whether the comparison fails on a non-NaN value or because it is passed a NaN, the dcmpl instruction pushes an int value onto the operand stack that causes the ifle to branch. If both of the dcmp instructions did not exist, one of the example methods would have had to do more work to detect NaN.

7.6 Receiving Arguments

    int addTwo(int i, int j) {

    	return i + j;

    }

Method int addTwo(int,int)

0	iload_1	// Push value of local 1 (i)
1	iload_2	// Push value of local 2 (j)
2	iadd	// Add; leave int result on val stack
3	ireturn	// Return int result





By convention, an instance method is passed a reference to its instance in local variable zero. The instance is accessible in Java via the this keyword. Code to push this into local variable zero must be present in the invoker of an instance method (see Section 7.7, "Invoking Methods").

Class (static) methods do not have an instance, so for them this use of local variable zero is unnecessary. A class method starts using local variables at index zero. If the addTwo method was a class method, its arguments would be passed in a similar way to the first version:

    static int addTwoStatic(int i, int j) {

    	return i + j;

    }

Method int addTwoStatic(int,int)

0	iload_0
1	iload_1
2	iadd
3	ireturn





The only difference is that the method arguments appear starting in local variable 0 rather than 1.

7.7 Invoking Methods

    int add12and13() {

    	return addTwo(12, 13);

    }

Method int add12and13()

0	aload_0	// Push this local 0 (this) onto stack
1	bipush 12	// Push int constant 12 onto stack
3	bipush 13	// Push int constant 13 onto stack
5	invokevirtual #4	// Method Example.addtwo(II)I
8	ireturn	// Return int on top of stack; it is
		// the int result of addTwo()

The invocation is set up by first pushing a reference to the current instance, this, onto the operand stack. The method invocation's arguments, int values 12 and 13, are then pushed. When the frame for the addTwo method is created, the arguments passed to the method become the initial values of the new frame's local variables. That is, the reference for this and the two arguments, pushed onto the operand stack by the invoker, will become the initial values of local variables 0, 1, and 2 of the invoked method.

Finally, addTwo is invoked. When it returns, its int return value is pushed onto the operand stack of the frame of the invoker, the add12and13 method. The return value is thus put in place to be immediately returned to the invoker of add12and13.

The return from add12and13 is handled by the ireturn instruction of add12and13. The ireturn instruction takes the int value returned by addTwo, on the operand stack of the current frame, and pushes it onto the operand stack of the frame of the invoker. It then returns control to the invoker, making the invoker's frame current. The Java Virtual Machine provides distinct return instructions for many of its numeric and reference data types, as well as a return instruction for methods with no return value. The same set of return instructions is used for all varieties of method invocations.

The operand of the invokevirtual instruction (in the example, the constant pool index #4) is not the offset of the method in the class instance. The Java compiler does not know the internal layout of a class instance. Instead, it generates symbolic references to the methods of an instance, which are stored in the constant pool. Those constant pool items are resolved at run time to determine the actual method location. The same is true for all other Java Virtual Machine instructions that access class instances.

Invoking addTwoStatic, a class (static) variant of addTwo, is similar:

    int add12and13() {

    	return addTwoStatic(12, 13);

    }

Method int add12and13()

0	bipush 12
2	bipush 13
4	invokestatic #3	// Method Example.addTwoStatic(II)I
7	ireturn





Compiling an invocation of a class (static) method is very much like compiling an invocation of an instance method, except this is not passed by the invoker. The method arguments will thus be received beginning with local variable 0 (see Section 7.6, "Receiving Arguments"). The invokestatic instruction is always used to invoke class methods.

The invokespecial instruction must be used to invoke instance initialization (<init>) methods (see Section 7.8, "Working with Class Instances"). It is also used when invoking methods in the superclass (super) and when invoking private methods. For instance, given classes Near and Far declared as

    class Near {

        	int it;

    	public int getItNear() {

    		return getIt();

    	}

        	private int getIt() {

    		return it;

        	}


    }


    class Far extends Near {

        	int getItFar() {

    		return super.getItNear();

        	}

    }

Method int getItNear()

0	aload_0
1	invokespecial #5	// Method Near.getIt()I
4	ireturn





The method Far.getItFar (which invokes a superclass method) becomes

Method int getItFar()

0	aload_0
1	invokespecial #4	// Method Near.getItNear()I
4	ireturn





7.8 Working with Class Instances

    Object create() {

    	return new Object();

    }

Method java.lang.Object create()

0	new #1	// Class java.lang.Object
3	dup
4	invokespecial #4	// Method java.lang.Object.<init>()V
7	areturn





Class instances are passed and returned (as reference types) very much like numeric values, although type reference has its own complement of instructions:

    int i;					// An instance variable

    MyObj example() {

    	MyObj o = new MyObj();

    	return silly(o);

    }

    MyObj silly(MyObj o) {

    	if (o != null) {

    	    return o;

    	} else {

    	    return o;

    	}

    }

Method MyObj example()

0	new #2	// Class MyObj
3	dup
4	invokespecial #5	// Method MyObj.<init>()V
7	astore_1
8	aload_0
9	aload_1
10	invokevirtual #4
		// Method Example.silly(LMyObj;)LMyObj;
13	areturn





Method MyObj silly(MyObj)

0	aload_1
1	ifnull 6
4	aload_1
5	areturn
6	aload_1
7	areturn





The fields of a class instance (instance variables) are accessed using the getfield and putfield instructions. If i is an instance variable of type int, the methods setIt and getIt, defined as

    void setIt(int value) {

    	i = value;

    }

    int getIt() {

    	return i;

    }

Method void setIt(int)

0	aload_0
1	iload_1
2	putfield #4	// Field Example.i I
5	return





    Method int getIt()


             0 


          aload_0






             1 


          getfield #4 


// Field Example.i I



             4


          ireturn

7.9 Arrays

    void createBuffer() {

    	int buffer[];

    	int bufsz = 100;

    	int value = 12;

    	buffer = new int[bufsz];

    	buffer[10] = value;

    	value = buffer[11];

    }

Method void createBuffer()

0	bipush 100	// Push bufsz
2	istore_2	// Store bufsz in local 2
3	bipush 12	// Push value
5	istore_3	// Store value in local 3
6	iload_2	// Push bufsz...
7	newarray int	// ...and create new array of int
9	astore_1	// Store new array in buffer
10	aload_1	// Push buffer
11	bipush 10	// Push constant 10
13	iload_3	// Push value
14	iastore	// Store value at buffer[10]
15	aload_1	// Push buffer
16	bipush 11	// Push constant 11
18	iaload	// Push value at buffer[11]
19	istore_3	// ...and store it in value
20	return





The anewarray instruction is used to create a one-dimensional array of object references:

    void createThreadArray() {

    	Thread threads[];

    	int count = 10;

    	threads = new Thread[count];

    	threads[0] = new Thread();

    }

Method void createThreadArray()

0	bipush 10	// Push 10...
2	istore_2	// ...and initialize count to that
3	iload_2	// Push count, used by anewarray
4	anewarray class #1	// Create new array of class Thread
7	astore_1	// Store new array in threads
8	aload_1	// Load value of threads on stack
9	iconst_0	// Load 0 into stack
10	new #1	// Create instance of class Thread
13	dup	// Make duplicate reference...
14	invokespecial #5	// ...to pass to initialization method
		// Method java.lang.Thread.<init>()V
17	aastore	// Store new Thread in array at 0
18	return





The anewarray instruction can also be used to create the first dimension of a multidimensional array. Alternatively, the multianewarray instruction can be used to create several dimensions at once. For example, the three-dimensional array in the following:

    int[][][] create3DArray() {

    	int grid[][][];

    	grid = new int[10][5][];

    	return grid;

    }

Method int create3DArray()[][][]

0	bipush 10	// Push 10 (dimension one)
2	iconst_5	// Push 5 (dimension two)
3	multianewarra y #1 dim #2	// Class [[[I, a three
		// dimensional int array;
		// only create first two
		// dimensions
7	astore_1	// Store new array...
8	aload_1	// ...then prepare to return it
9	areturn





The first operand of the multianewarray instruction is the constant pool index to the array class type to be created. The second is the number of dimensions of that array type to actually create. The multianewarray instruction can be used to create all the dimensions of the type, as the code for create3DArray shows. Note that the multidimensional array is just an object, and so is loaded and returned by an aload_1 and areturn instruction, respectively. For information about array class names, see §4.4.1.

All arrays have associated lengths, which are accessed via the arraylength instruction.

7.10 Compiling Switches

    int chooseNear(int i) {int chooseNear(int i) {

    	switch (i) {

    	    case 0: 			return 0;

    	    case 1: 			return 1;

    	    case 2: 			return 2;

    	    default:			return -1;

    	}

    }



    


    

Method int chooseNear(int)

0	iload_1	// Load local 1 (argument i)
1	tableswitch 0 to 2:	// Valid indices are 0 through 2
	0: 28	// If i is 0, continue at 28
	1: 30	// If i is 1, continue at 30
	2: 32	// If i is 2, continue at 32
	default:34	// Otherwise, continue at 34
28	iconst_0	// i was 0; push int 0...
29	ireturn	// ...and return it
30	iconst_1	// i was 1; push int 1...
31	ireturn	// ...and return it
32	iconst_2	// i was 2; push int 2...
33	ireturn	// ...and return it
34	iconst_m1	// otherwise push int -1...
35	ireturn	// ...and return it





The Java Virtual Machine's tableswitch and lookupswitch instructions only operate on int data. Because operations on byte, char, or short values are internally promoted to int, a switch whose expression evaluates to one of those types is compiled as though it evaluated to type int. If the chooseNear method had been written using type short, the same Java Virtual Machine instructions would have been generated as when using type int. Other numeric types must be narrowed to type int for use in a switch.

Where the cases of the switch are sparse, the table representation of the tableswitch instruction becomes inefficient in terms of space. The lookupswitch instruction may be used instead. The lookupswitch instruction pairs int keys (the values of the case labels) with target offsets in a table. When a lookupswitch instruction is executed, the value of the expression of the switch is compared against the keys in the table. If one of the keys matches the value of the expression, execution continues at the associated target offset. If no key matches, execution continues at the default target. For instance, the compiled code for

int chooseFar(int i) {

	switch (i) {
	case -100:	return -1;
	case 0:	return 0;
	case 100:	return 1;
	default:	return -1;
	}
}





looks just like the code for chooseNear, except for the use of the lookupswitch instruction:

Method int chooseFar(int)

0	iload_1
1	lookupswitch 3:
		-100: 36
		0: 38
		100: 40
		default:42
36	iconst_m1
37	ireturn
38	iconst_0
39	ireturn
40	iconst_1
41	ireturn
42	const_m1
43	ireturn

T

The Java Virtual Machine specifies that the table of the lookupswitch instruction must be sorted by key so that implementations may use searches more efficient than a linear scan. Even so, the lookupswitch instruction must search its keys for a match rather than simply perform a bounds check and index into a table like tableswitch. Thus, a tableswitch instruction is probably more efficient than a lookupswitch where space considerations permit a choice.

7.11 Operations on the Operand Stack

    public long nextIndex() { 

    	return index++;

    }

    private long index = 0;

Method long nextIndex()

0	aload_0	// Write this onto operand stack
1	dup	// Make a copy of it
2	getfield #4	// One of the copies of this is consumed
		// loading long field index onto stack,
		// above the original this
5	dup2_x1	// The long on top of the stack is
		// inserted into the stack below the
		// original this
6	lconst_1	// A long 1 is loaded onto the stack
7	ladd	// The index value is incremented
8	putfield #4	// and the result stored back in the field
11	lreturn	// The original value of index is left on
		// top of the stack, ready to be returned





Note that the Java Virtual Machine never allows its operand stack manipulation instructions to modify or move the words of its two-word data types individually.

7.12 Throwing and Handling Exceptions

    void cantBeZero(int i) throws TestExc {

    	if (i == 0) {

    	    throw new TestExc();

    	}

    }

Method void cantBeZero(int)

0	iload_1	// Load argument 1 (i) onto stack
1	ifne 12	// If i==0, allocate instance and throw
4	new #1	// Create instance of TestExc
7	dup	// One reference goes to the constructor
8	invokespecial #7	// Method TestExc.<init>()V
11	athrow	// Second reference is thrown
12	return	// Never get here if we threw TestExc





Compilation of Java's try-catch is straightforward. For example:

    void catchOne() {

    	try {

    	    tryItOut();

    	} catch (TestExc e) {

    	    handleExc(e);

    	}


    }

Method void catchOne()

0	aload_0	// Beginning of try block
1	invokevirtual #6	// Method Example.tryItOut()V
4	return	// End of try block; normal return
5	astore_1	// Store thrown value in local variable 1
6	aload_0	// Load this onto stack
7	aload_1	// Load thrown value onto stack
8	invokevirtual #5	// Invoke handler method:
		// Example.handleExc(LTestExc;)V
11	return	// Return after handling TestExc





Exception table:

From	To	Target	Type
0	4	5	Class TestExc

Looking more closely, the try block is compiled just as it would be if the try were not present:

Method void catchOne()

0	aload_0	// Beginning of try block
1	invokevirtual #4	// Method Example.tryItOut()V
4	return	// End of try block; normal return





If no exception is thrown during the execution of the try block, it behaves as though the try were not there: tryItOut is invoked and catchOne returns.

Following the try block is the Java Virtual Machine code that implements the single catch clause:

5	astore_1	// Store thrown value in local variable 1
6	aload_0	// Load this onto stack
7	aload_1	// Load thrown value onto stack
8	invokevirtual #5	// Invoke handler method:
		// Example.handleExc(LTestExc;)V
11	return	// Return after handling TestExc

    Exception table: 






From 

 


To 

 


Target 

 


Type

 



0     

 


4     

 


5 

 


Class TestExc

 






    The invocation of handleExc, the contents of the catch clause, is also compiled like a 

normal method invocation. However, the presence of a catch clause causes the compiler to generate an exception table entry. The exception table for the catchOne method 

has one entry corresponding to the one argument (an instance of class TestExc) that the 

catch clause of catchOne can handle. If some value that is an instance of TestExc is 

thrown during execution of the instructions between in-dices 0 and 4 (inclusive) in 

catchOne, control is transferred to the Java Virtual Machine code at index 5, which 

implements the block of the catch clause. If the value that is thrown is not an instance 

of TestExc, the catch clause of catchOne cannot handle it. Instead, the value is 

rethrown to the invoker of catchOne.

    void catchTwo() {void catchTwo() {

    	try {

    	    tryItOut();

    	} catch (TestExc1 e) {

    	    handleExc(e);

    	} catch (TestExc2 e) {

    	    handleExc(e);

    	}

    

Method void catchTwo()}

0	aload_0	// Begin try block
1	invokevirtual #5	// Method Example.tryItOut()V
4	return	// End of try block; normal return
5	astore_1	// Beginning of handler for TestExc1;
		// Store thrown value in local variable 1
6	aload_0	// Load this onto stack
7	aload_1	// Load thrown value onto stack
8	invokevirtual #7	// Invoke handler method:
		// Example.handleExc(LTestExc1;)V
11	return	// Return after handling TestExc1
12	astore_1	// Beginning of handler for TestExc2;
		// Store thrown value in local variable 1
13	aload_0	// Load this onto stack
14	aload_1	// Load thrown value onto stack
15	invokevirtual #7	// Invoke handler method:
		// Example.handleExc(LTestExc2;)V
18	return	// Return after handling TestExc2





    Exception table:




From To 


          


          Target 


          Type






0     


          4     


          5   


          Class TestExc1






0     


          4    


          12   


          Class TestExc2

Nested try-catch statements are compiled very much like a try statement with multiple catch clauses:

    void nestedCatch() {


    void nestedCatch() {

    	try {

    	    try {

    	        tryItOut();

    	    } catch (TestExc1 e) {

    			handleExc1(e);

    	    }

    	} catch (TestExc2 e) {

    	    handleExc2(e);

    	}

    }

Method void nestedCatch()

0	aload_0	// Begin try block
1	invokevirtual #8	// Method Example.tryItOut()V
4	return	// End of try block; normal return
5	astore_1	// Beginning of handler for TestExc1;
		// Store thrown value in local variable 1
6	aload_0	// Load this onto stack
7	aload_1	// Load thrown value onto stack
8	invokevirtual #7	// Invoke handler method:
		// Example.handleExc1(LTestExc1;)V
11	return	// Return after handling TestExc1
12	astore_1	// Beginning of handler for TestExc2;
		// Store thrown value in local variable 1
13	aload_0	// Load this onto stack
14	aload_1	// Load thrown value onto stack
15	invokevirtual #6	// Invoke handler method:
		// Example.handleExc2(LTestExc2;)V
18	return	// Return after handling TestExc2





Exception table:

From	To	Target	Type
0	4	5	Class TestExc1
0	12	12	Class TestExc2

The nesting of catch clauses is represented only in the exception table. When an exception is thrown, the innermost catch clause that contains the site of the exception and with a matching parameter is selected to handle it. For instance, if the invocation of tryItOut (at index 1) threw an instance of TestExc1, it would be handled by the catch clause that invokes handleExc1. This is so even though the exception occurs within the bounds of the outer catch clause (catching TestExc2), and even though that outer catch clause might otherwise have been able to handle the thrown value.

As a subtle point, note that the range of a catch clause is inclusive on the "from" end and exclusive on the "to" end (see §4.7.4). Thus, the exception table entry for the catch clause catching TestExc1 does not cover the return instruction at offset 4. However, the exception table entry for the catch clause catching TestExc2 does cover the return instruction at offset 11. Return instructions within nested catch clauses are included in the range of instructions covered by nesting catch clauses.

7.13 Compiling finally

void tryFinally() {

	try {
	tryItOut();
	} finally {
	wrapItUp();
	}
}





the compiled code is

Method void tryFinally()

0	aload_0	// Beginning of try block
1	invokevirtual #6	// Method Example.tryItOut()V
4	jsr 14	// Call finally block
7	return	// End of try block
8	astore_1	// Beginning of handler for any throw
9	jsr 14	// Call finally block
12	aload_1	// Push thrown value,
13	athrow	// and rethrow the value to the invoker
14	astore_2	// Beginning of finally block
15	aload_0	// Push this onto stack
16	invokevirtual #5	// Method Example.wrapItUp()V
19	ret 2	// Return from finally block





Exception table:

From	To	Target	Type
0	4	8	any

There are four ways for control to pass outside of the try statement: by falling through the bottom of that block, by returning, by executing a break or continue statement, or by raising an exception. If tryItOut returns without raising an exception, control is transferred to the finally block using a jsr instruction. The jsr 14 instruction at index 4 makes a "subroutine call" to the code for the finally block at index 14 (the finally block is compiled as an embedded subroutine). When the finally block completes, the ret 2 instruction returns control to the instruction following the jsr instruction at index 4.

In more detail, the subroutine call works as follows: The jsr instruction pushes the address of the following instruction (return at index 7) onto the operand stack before jumping. The astore_2 instruction that is the jump target stores the address on the operand stack into local variable 2. The code for the finally block (in this case the aload_0 and invokevirtual instructions) is run. Assuming execution of that code completes normally, the ret instruction retrieves the address from local variable 2 and resumes execution at that address. The return instruction is executed, and tryFinally returns normally.

A try statement with a finally clause is compiled to have a special exception handler, one that can handle any exception thrown within the try statement. If tryItOut throws an exception, the exception table for tryFinally is searched for an appropriate exception handler. The special handler is found, causing execution to continue at index 8. The astore_1 instruction at index 8 stores the thrown value into local variable 1. The following jsr instruction does a subroutine call to the code for the finally block. Assuming that code returns normally, the aload_1 instruction at index 12 pushes the thrown value back onto the operand stack, and the following athrow instruction rethrows the value.

Compiling a try statement with both a catch clause and a finally clause is more complex:

void tryCatchFinally() {

	try {
	tryItOut();
	} catch (TestExc e) {
	handleExc(e);
	} finally {
	wrapItUp();
	}
}





becomes

Method void tryCatchFinally()

0	aload_0	// Beginning of try block
1	invokevirtual #4	// Method Example.tryItOut()V
4	goto 16	// Jump to finally block
7	astore_3	// Beginning of handler for TestExc;
		// Store thrown value in local variable 3
8	aload_0	// Push this onto stack
9	aload_3	// Push thrown value onto stack
10	invokevirtual #6	// Invoke handler method:
		// Example.handleExc(LTestExc;)V
13	goto 16	// Huh???1
16	jsr 26	// Call finally block
19	return	// Return after handling TestExc
20	astore_1	// Beginning of handler for exceptions
		// other than TestExc, or exceptions
		// thrown while handling TestExc
21	jsr 26	// Call finally block
24	aload_1	// Push thrown value,
25	athrow	// and rethrow the value to the invoker
26	astore_2	// Beginning of finally block
27	aload_0	// Push this onto stack
28	invokevirtual #5	// Method Example.wrapItUp()V

31

ret 2

// Return from finally block





    

    Exception table:




From 



To 



Target 



Type





0     



4     



7 



Class TestExc





0   



16    



20   



any







    

If tryItOut throws an instance of TestExc, the first (innermost) applicable exception handler in the exception table is chosen to handle the exception. The code for that exception handler, beginning at index 7, passes the thrown value to handleExc, and on its return makes the same subroutine call to the finally block at index 26 as in the normal case. If an exception is not thrown by handleExc, tryCatchFinally returns normally.

If tryItOut throws a value that is not an instance of TestExc, or if handleExc itself throws an exception, the condition is handled by the second entry in the exception table, which handles any value thrown between indices 0 and 16. That exception handler transfers control to index 20, where the thrown value is first stored in local variable 1. The code for the finally block at index 26 is called as a subroutine. If it returns, the thrown value is retrieved from local variable 1 and rethrown using the athrow instruction. If a new value is thrown during execution of the finally clause, the finally clause aborts and tryCatchFinally returns abnormally, throwing the new value to its invoker.

7.14 Synchronization

A synchronized method is not normally implemented using monitorenter and monitorexit. Rather, it is simply distinguished in the constant pool by the ACC_SYNCHRONIZED flag, which is checked by the method invocation instructions. When invoking a method for which ACC_SYNCHRONIZED is set, the current thread acquires a monitor, invokes the method itself, and releases the monitor whether the method invocation completes normally or abruptly. During the time the executing thread owns the monitor, no other thread may acquire it. If an exception is thrown during invocation of the synchronized method, and the synchronized method does not handle the exception, the monitor for the method is automatically released before the exception is rethrown out of the synchronized method.

The monitorenter and monitorexit instructions exist to support Java's synchronized statements. A synchronized statement acquires a monitor on behalf of the executing thread, executes the body of the statement, then releases the monitor:

    void onlyMe(Foo f) {

    	synchronized(f) {

    	    doSomething();

    	}

    }

Method void onlyMe(Foo)

0	aload_1	// Load f onto operand stack
1	astore_2	// Store it in local variable 2
2	aload_2	// Load local variable 2 (f) onto stack
3	monitorenter	// Enter the monitor associated with f
4	aload_0	// Holding the monitor, pass this and
5	invokevirtual #5	// call Example.doSomething()V
8	aload_2	// Load local variable 2 (f) onto stack
9	monitorexit	// Exit the monitor associated with f
10	return	// Return normally
11	aload_2	// In case of any throw, end up here
12	monitorexit	// Be sure to exit monitor,
13	athrow	// then rethrow the value to the invoker





Exception table:

From	To	Target a	Type
4	8	11	any

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Java Virtual Machine Specification (HTML generated by chsieh on March 26, 1997)
Copyright © 1996, 1997 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved
Please send any comments or corrections to doug.kramer@sun.com