A transformational overview of the core functionality of an abstract class loader for the SSP

Abstract

The SSP is a hardware implementation of a subset of the JVM for use in high consequence embedded applications. In this context, a majority of the activities belonging to class loading, as it is defined in the specification of the JVM, can be performed statically. Static class loading has the net result of dramatically simplifying the design of the SSP as well as increasing its performance. The functionality of the class loader can be implemented using strategic programming techniques. The incremental nature of strategic programming is amenable to formal verification. This article gives an overview of the core class loading activities for the SSP, their implementation in the strategic programming language TL, and outlines the approach to formal verification of the implementation.