How Java HotSpot Compiler Happened

airhacks.fm podcast with adam bien

An airhacks.fm conversation with Cliff Click (@cliff_click) about:

Cliff Click's early computer experiences with xerox mainframe and punch cards, learning fortran at a young age, programming on TRS-80 and other early microcomputers, developing a passion for compilers and optimization, pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at Rice University, inventing the sea of nodes compiler architecture, working at motorola and discovering Intel's benchmark cheating, joining Sun Microsystems to develop the Java HotSpot compiler, presenting groundbreaking Java performance improvements at JavaOne 2002, frustrations with Sun's management and development processes, moving to Azul Systems for custom Java hardware development, reflections on compiler research, the challenges of being a highly productive programmer in a team environment, analyzing bug rates and productivity metrics, the importance of writing new code for feature development, enjoying Java's "write once, run anywhere" philosophy, current involvement in compiler communities on Discord and Cliff Click on YouTube

Cliff Click on twitter: @cliff_click