Computer Systems with a Very Large Address Space and Garbage Collection.

摘要

The concept of objects is beginning to gain acceptance throughout the field of computer science. A new computer system is proposed that provides hardware support for objects and object references that can be used in all applications of objects. The new system provides a small object references that can be copied freely, makes very small objects efficient, and retrieves the storage for inaccessible objects automatically. This system is compared with some widely used existing systems, and while its speed seems to be competitive, it is much easier to use. Object references provide protection in the new system as do capabilities in capability systems. The object reference in the new system contains an address from a linear, paged virtual address space rather than a unique ID. Use of small objects is made feasible by efficiently grouping objects into areas. Objects in the same area may be placed on the same page. The system automatically and efficiently manitains lists of inter-area links that allow single areas to be garbage collected independently of the rest of the system. The garbage collector can determine whether objects have been inappropriately placed in an area and can move these objects to more appropriate areas automatically. (Author)