Project proposal: Graal

[Laurent Daynes]

Doug,
   I  fully support this project and I'll be glad to act as one of your 
initial supporter.

On 1/25/12 11:03 AM, Douglas Simon wrote:
> In accordance with the OpenJDK guidelines [1], we would like to start the
> discussion of a new project to explore implementing a dynamic compiler
> in Java that can be used in a native JVM such as HotSpot as well as in
> a meta-circular JVM such as Maxine [2].
>
> The goal of this project is to design a dynamic compiler in Java that
> produces excellent code quality without compromising compile time and
> memory usage by the JVM. The origin and starting point for this project
> would be the Graal compiler from the Maxine code base. This compiler is
> already integrated and runs in both HotSpot and Maxine. The Maxine wiki
> contains a brief history of its heritage [4].
>
> The compiler uses a clearly defined interface [3] for interacting with
> the runtime of the JVM. Furthermore, it uses features of Java that make
> it highly extensible such that adding extra IR nodes and/or transformations
> is as easy as possible.
>
> In addition to performance goals, this project aims to demonstrate the
> advantages of writing (some of) a JVM in Java while at the same time
> addressing the unique challenges such an approach entails. In this sense,
> Graal is a narrower application of meta-circular JVM design principles as
> embodied in Maxine and Jikes RVM [5].
>
> To ensure the broadest possible collaboration between potential contributors
> the project will maintain one or more code repositories derived from the
> OpenJDK HotSpot repository [6] and a developers' mailing list. The Graal
> code repository and developers' mailing list will be under the GPL license
> (GPL) version 2 with the Classpath exception and the OpenJDK Assembly Exception.
>
> Through private correspondence, we have the support and an offer of sponsorship
> from the lead of the HotSpot Group (Paul Hohensee). We would now like to invite
> anyone who supports our goal to nominate themselves as an initial supporter
> to be listed on the formal project proposal that will follow after the discussion.
>
> Regards,
>
> Doug Simon and Thomas Wuerthinger
>
> [1] http://openjdk.java.net/projects/#new-project
> [2] https://wikis.oracle.com/display/MaxineVM/Home
> [3] https://wikis.oracle.com/download/attachments/4161575/vee2010.pdf
> [4] https://wikis.oracle.com/display/MaxineVM/Graal
> [5] http://jikesrvm.org/
> [6] http://hg.openjdk.java.net/hsx/hotspot-main/


-- 
    Laurent Daynès
Oracle Labs