HP announced another speed hike for 3000s based on a software enhancement at HP World when it reported the Java Just In Time (JIT) compiler is available for MPE/iX. JIT executes Java applications as much as 15 times faster than before, giving Java programs a chance to be used in mission-critical environments. HP is making the free compiler and 1.1.2 version available through the division's Jazz Web site. The software is also through a Freeware tape to be distributed by Interex in the coming weeks.
Demonstrations at the HP booth at HP World showed that the new JIT compiler made floating point operations more than six times faster, while loop processes showed a benchmark increase from 136 to 3510 -- more than 25 times faster. Overall, the Java/iX applications shown in the HP booth scored a 725 Caffeinemark rating versus a 167 score without the JIT compiler enabled.
The increased speeds aren't manifested across the board for Java/iX. HP CSY engineer Mike Yawn, who's been leading the Java developments for the 3000, reported that launching Java applications is still a slow process, even with the JIT compiler enabled. "That's an area that Sun has said it will fix, because it's very bad for demos," Yawn said. Start-ups take as much as 10 seconds to launch because of the virtual machine overhead in creating five different processes at launch time.
The port of the HP-UX JIT compiler delivers better performance for Java/iX. Yawn said his measurements show the applications are 15 times faster when graphic calls aren't employed in applications, and about 8 times faster when they are used. He added that he's interested in helping to develop an MPE/iX native compiler. HP's Computer Language Labs is in the process of investigating the use of Java byte code as an intermediate file format between compiler front and back ends to improve performance. This kind of advance could permit other HP 3000 languages to generate Java byte code, enhancing portability prospects at the same time.
Yawn said he believes Java is a language suitable for any kind of application, and it's infrastructure is being "geared to scaling up to enterprise-sized applications. I don't see any reason why you couldn't implement your payroll or MRP or order entry applications in this language."
Portability is still an elusive target for Java today. While the goal was to write once and run everywhere, Yawn said the language as implemented on any platform today is "more like write once, debug everywhere. Most of those issues seem to be in the graphics windowing toolkit."
HP didn't announce formal support for the Java/iX software at HP World, but it hopes the increased performance from the JIT compiler will press Java into an area where it's not yet performing -- as a mission-critical tool. Yawn reported that his informal survey of the customer base before HP World revealed no sites where Java applications were in production environments. "I'd like to see some people actually get successful with this," Yawn said. "The promise of Java is supposed to be getting new applications for the 3000."
Increased use of the tool could justify a CSY commitment for full support of the product. "We're trying to create some more market demand for this product," said HP's Kriss Rant.
For the moment, HP is offering what it's begun to call "direct support through the lab, for customers who are experimenting with it and kick-starting some pilots," according to Rant. HP's Yawn continues to support Java/iX and engineer its advances with the help of other CSY staff. He was especially grateful for the support of CSY's Bangalore, India engineers, who could continue working on Java projects when Yawn's workday ended in California because of the time difference between the US and India.
While the JIT compiler was added to the new 1.1.2 Java/iX version, multicast sockets still don't work. Yawn bets they won't be needed in HP 3000 environments.
"Multicast sockets are not supported on MPE at all, so this isn't a Java issue per se," Yawn said. "We don't think there is likely to be much, if any, demand for this feature. If we turn out to be wrong, we can always investigate further."