Common Smalltalk VM Summit

Michael Haupt mhaupt at gmail.com
Fri Oct 6 17:32:35 UTC 2006


Hi,

On 10/6/06, J J <azreal1977 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> I'm confused.  I thought type-feedback wasn't going to give and speed
> improvements.  If not, then what does it buy?

it's the optional type system in Strongtalk that does not improve
performance. Type *feedback* does, though.

Take Self, for example. It does not have a type system (not even an
optional one), but type feedback-directed optimisation. Type feedback
works without a "static" type system backing it.

The type feedback mechanisms are - provided I understand them
correctly - about recording type information at send sites. This can
be done in the absence of actual type annotations as well as in their
presence. The latter approach is the one Strongtalk follows: type
declarations are a "helping hand", but the power comes from the
feedback mechanisms themselves.

I hope I'm not adding to your confusion. :-)

Best,

Michael



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