Course Description

Traditional static compilation and optimization approaches operate with limited knowledge of the runtime environment. With current trends toward a few dominant processor architectures and operating systems, a single executable can now be generated that executes on a large range of compatible but diverse systems. These systems may be as diverse as supercomputer-class systems and hand-held devices. To cope with the radically different characteristics of these compatible systems, optimization is being forced to runtime, when accurate information about the target system and input data set is known. Once optimization is moved to runtime, completely new paradigms can be explored, such as runtime binary translation from one instruction set to another, or just-in-time compilation, where machine-specific code is generated lazily as needed.

This couse explores the state of the art in runtime dynamic and adaptive program optimization. It will include topics such as:

• Combined Compile-Time / Runtime Systems
• Dynamic Compilation
• Runtime Binary Translation
• Just-In-Time Compilers and Virtual Machines

Textbook and References

Grading Criteria

• Small Group (2-3) or Individual Project (60%)
• Oral Presentation of a Paper in Class (20%)
• Class Participation (Quizzes only if Necessary!) (20%)

Instructor

Michael Voss
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Office: Sanford Fleming Building (SF) 2002E
Phone : (416) 946 - 8031
Email : voss@eecg.toronto.edu
Assistant : Mary Balis, SF2002