Method and apparatus for optimizing the assignment of hash values to nodes residing in a garbage collected heap

摘要

Apparatus, methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed that generate a hash value for a node allocated from a generational garbage collected heap. The heap is associated with a global hash offset that is updated on every scavenge operation. This global hash offset is added to the address of the node to generate a hash offset. The hash offset is only generated upon a generate hash condition. The generate hash condition occurs when the hash value for the node is accessed or when the node is copied from the creation area. Thus, the invention generates hash values for nodes that require them while in the creation area of the heap. When the active nodes are copied from the creation area of the heap the hash value is generated as part of the copy process without additional memory accesses.