This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Java Buzz by Toyokazu Tomatsu. Original Post: I don't need invokedynamic Feed Title: Pnuts Addict Feed URL: http://jroller.com/tomatsu/feed/entries/rss Feed Description: Toyokazu Tomatsu's Weblog Latest Java Buzz Posts Latest Java Buzz Posts by Toyokazu Tomatsu Latest Posts From Pnuts Addict

Pnuts is one of the fastest scripting language on JVM. One secret of the efficient implementation is sophisticated method caching. Pnuts usually does not use Reflection API to call methods, even when accessing JavaBeans properties. Pnuts generates method proxies on-the-fly and reuse them. Reflection API is used only when method proxy can't be used because of classloader mismatch. It is true that searching appropriate methods from actual arguments is expensive, but the impact is almost completely invisible, thanks to the method cache. In fact, method call in Pnuts is even faster than that of Ruby. Is it still worth adding a new mnemonic? Or the mnemonic is for other language implementors?

In Pnuts, it is possible to give a hint to select a particular method, assuming that the method is overloaded and two or more methods match the actual arguments. When some of the actual arguments have "cast" to some type, the information is used to choose an appropriate method. e.g. String.valueOf((char[])array). How can it be achieved using invokedynamic?

Also, Pnuts searches methods through JavaBeans method descriptors, but not Class.getMethods(..). And the way of searching methods/constructors can be customized. Under some configuration, private methods can be selected. This kind of flexibility can be achieved only at application-level.

The cause of slow down is not just invoking methods. Some other JVM languages don't generate bytecode and interpret the code in their implementation. They can't be faster unless a bytecode compiler is implemented. Even JVM languages with bytecode compiler, the generated code and the runtime library should be efficient. If the generated code and the runtime library is not efficient, invokedynamic would have no effect.