JVM
       Java Virtual Machine (Java)

	

	Java Virtual Machine
Java VM
JVM

    (JVM) A specification for software
   which interprets Java programs that have been compiled into
   byte-codes, and usually stored in a ".class" file.  The JVM
   instruction set is stack-oriented, with variable
   instruction length.  Unlike some other instruction sets, the
   JVM's supports object-oriented programming directly by
   including instructions for object method invocation (similar
   to subroutine call in other instruction sets).

   The JVM itself is written in C and so can be ported to run
   on most platforms.  It needs thread support and I/O (for
   dynamic class loading).  The Java byte-code is independent
   of the platform.

   There are also some hardware implementations of the JVM.

   Specification
   (http://javasoft.com/docs/books/vmspec/html/VMSpecTOC.doc.html).

   Sun's Java chip
   (http://news.com/News/Item/0,4,9328,00.html).

   [Documentation?  Versions?]

   (2000-01-03)