Adaptive Java Optimisation using machine learning techniques

Abstract

There is a continuing demand for higher performance, particularly in the area of scientific and engineering computation. In order to achieve high performance in the context of frequent hardware upgrading, software must be adaptable for portable performance. What is required is an optimising compiler that evolves and adapts itself to environmental change without sacrificing performance. Java has emerged as a dominant programming language widely used in a variety of application areas. However, its architectural independant design means that it is frequently unable to deliver high performance especially when compared to other imperative languages such as Fortran and C/C++. This thesis presents a language- and architecture-independant approach to achieve portable high performance. It uses the mapping notation introduced in the Unified Transformation Framework to specify a large optimisation space. A heuristic random search algorithm is introduced to explore this space in a feedback-directed iterative optimisation manner. It is then extended using a machine learning approach which enables the compiler to learn from its previous optimisations and apply the knowledge when necessary. Both the heuristic random search algorithm and the learning optimisation approach are implemented in a prototype Adaptive Optimisation Framework for Java (AOF-Java). The experimental results show that the heuristic random search algorithm can find, within a relatively small number of atttempts, good points in the large optimisation space. In addition, the learning optimisation approach is capable of finding good transformations for a given program from its prior experience with other programs.