Newsgroup: comp.lang.functional

>From article <1993Oct26.092132.4242@cse.iitb.ernet.in>, by oberoi@cse.iitb.ernet.in (Sundeep Oberoi):
[...]
> The process of abstracting away from
> physical machine may take away opportunities to utilize particular
> hardware features. The problem of abstracting away from the language may
> also rob one of some optimization opportunities as the abstraction process
> tend to cause some loss of information. 

Certain abstract machine implementations, on certain architectures can
actually be faster than native code compilation schemes.  This can be
the case when the abstract machine interpreter and parts of the abstract
machine instructions fit in instruction and data caches that would
otherwise be thrashed by lengthy native code sequences.

In older microcoded CISC architectures abstract machines could be
implemented by a modified microcode intepreted (WAM on a VAX comes
to mind.)

Diomidis
-- 
Diomidis Spinellis    Internet: <dds@doc.ic.ac.uk>  UUCP: ...!uknet!icdoc!dds
Department of Computing, Imperial College, London SW7     #include "/dev/tty"

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