nativeJava

nativeJava refers to Java code that is compiled into native machine code for a specific platform, rather than running on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This compilation process is typically done using tools like GCJ (GNU Compiler for Java) or Excelsior JET. The primary motivation for using nativeJava is to achieve performance improvements by eliminating the overhead of the JVM and JIT compilation.

When Java code is compiled natively, it can execute directly on the processor, potentially leading to faster startup times and higher runtime performance, especially for computationally intensive applications. This approach can also be beneficial for creating standalone executables that do not require a separate JVM installation on the target system.

However, nativeJava compilation has drawbacks. It sacrifices Java's platform independence, meaning a compiled native executable will only run on the specific operating system and architecture it was compiled for. This loss of "write once, run anywhere" is a significant departure from standard Java. Furthermore, nativeJava compilers may not support all Java features or libraries, and the compilation process itself can be complex and time-consuming. Due to these limitations and the continuous performance improvements in modern JVMs, nativeJava has seen declining adoption compared to traditional Java development.