A framework for optimizing Python, 2003

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Hub, Call Number: MU Thesis Hub CD-ROM

Identifier: b2194891

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate Computer Science program. The holdings are primarily bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Science degree.

Dates

Creation: 2003

Creator

Huber, George (Author, Person)
Clayton, Richard (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

All analog collection holdings are limited to library use only.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan.

Researchers seeking to photocopy collection materials must complete an Application to Photocopy Form.

Any photocopying of collection materials will be performed by the Monmouth University Library staff.

The Monmouth University Library reserves the right to limit or refuse duplication requests subject to the condition of collection materials and/or restrictions imposed by the collection creators or by the United States Copyright Act.

Permission to examine, or copy, collection materials does not imply permission to publish or quote. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain such permissions from both the copyright holder and Monmouth University.

Full Extent

2 Items (1 print book and 1 compact disc) : textual and digital materials ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm) and 4.7 inches.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

With the increasing popularity of interpreted languages, primarily scripted languages - e.g. PERL, Python, Tel/Tk, and the use of these languages in creating major applications, the efficiency of the interpreter is becoming increasingly important. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of creating a virtual machine that is register-based rather than traditional stack-based virtual machines. We believe that a register-based virtual machine, while harder to create, should improve throughput because it does not suffer from the overhead of creating new objects and the overhead of stack maintenance. A virtual machine that is capable of handling a subset of the Python instruction codes was created. In addition to the register-based virtual machine, a stack-based virtual machine was created that utilized the same set of supporting functions as the register-based virtual machine. Both machines were used to interpret the same set of Python programs and execution time, measured as total clock cycles, was measured. In all cases the register-based virtual machine outperformed the stack-based virtual machine. In addition to the work done on virtual machines, ongoing work on the creation of a framework for the testing of compilers and interpreters is described.

Partial Conents

Abstract -- Acknowlegements -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Project scope and background -- 3. Design and implementation -- 4. Results and discussion -- 5. Conclusions -- Appendices -- References.