RHE: A Lightweight JVM Instructional Tool

Teaching Java Virtual Machine (JVM) has become essential in training the next generation of Web application engineers, embedded software engineers, as well as virtual machine researchers and practitioners. However, due to the lack of a suitable instructional tool, it is difficult for students to get a sufficiently deep understanding of JVM design. In this paper, we introduce RHE (Reduced version of Harmony for Education), a lightweight JVM instructional tool. Due to its modular design and simple implementation, RHE can also be used as a research prototype with quick turnaround time. Our experience shows that with RHE, engineers with little or no knowledge of JVM design can become familiar with various JVM components within a week.