摘要 |
<p>An apparatus and method for loading software into a Java virtual machine ("JVM") in a manner suited for real-time server applications. The software to be loaded is organized by Java package and class so that an application may be loaded in units of packages. Each package, and each class within a package, is loaded into the JVM in an order such that no package or class is loaded before the packages or classes upon which it depends. All software for an application is loaded into the JVM, and any compilation, optimization, or initialization takes place, prior to execution of the application program, so that no delays are incurred during such execution. Software loaded into the JVM, as well as attributes of that software, are identified. Versions of packages are compared when loading the packages to ensure compatibility. An "image" of loaded software is created, which image may be reused by the JVM in order to restart an application rapidly following a failure. A loader environment within the JVM contains information about all loaded applications, packages, and classes, their attributes, and their interrelationships. <IMAGE></p> |