Accessing module internals from bytecode rewriting agent

[Alan Bateman]

On 16/06/2017 10:26, Michael Rasmussen wrote:
> :
> If going that route, then there are 3 capabilities added with JVMTI 9
> that you should look into, in order to be able to intercept the
> loading of the very early classes as well (Object, String, Class etc):
> can_generate_early_vmstart
> can_generate_all_class_hook_events
> can_generate_early_class_hook_events
The two can_generate_early_XXXX capabilities are new. 
can_generate_all_class_hook_events has been there since JVM TI 1.0.

> :
>
> Also note, that if your modified classes cause other classes to be
> loaded during loading/verification, then you might get into trouble.
> For instance if they don't exist in java.base, they won't be found.
>
I assume you mean calling JNI FindClass in the start phase.  A long 
standing bug in the JVM TI spec is that it set expectations that any JNI 
function could be used in the start phase even though the VM is not 
fully initialized. That spec issue was corrected and expectations dialed 
down with the spec changes in 9. Another point is that the start phase 
defaults to being deferred until VM initialization is at the point that 
it can classes in modules other than java.base. That keeps existing JVM 
TI agents working as the cost of them missing out on events from early 
startup (long before main is executed).

-Alan.