Cold object identification in the Java virtual machine. (29th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Briggs, Kim T.; Zhou, Baoguo; Dueck, Gerhard W.
• Is Part Of: Software, practice & experience. Volume 47:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 95
• Publication Date: 2016-03-29
• Subjects: Java virtual machine -- garbage collection -- cold objects -- access barrier -- stack sampling; Computer software -- Periodicals; Computer programming -- Periodicals; Computer programs -- Periodicals; 005.3
• DOI: 10.1002/spe.2396
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0644

Abstract

Summary: Many Java applications instantiate objects within the Java heap that are persistent but seldom if ever referenced by the application. Examples include strings, such as error messages, and collections of value objects that are preloaded for fast access. This paper describes a stack‐based framework for detecting these 'cold' objects at runtime, with a view to marshaling and sequestering them in designated regions of the heap where they may be preferentially paged out to a backing store, thereby freeing physical memory pages for occupation by more active objects. Furthermore, we evaluate the correctness and efficiency of stack‐based approach with an access barrier. The experimental results from a series of SPECjvm2008 benchmarks are presented. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.