Cloud Native JVM

What is a Cloud Native JVM?

The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is the component of the Java Development Kit (JDK) responsible for running an application and executing its functions. A cloud-native JVM is designed specifically to run on cloud environments, meaning they can leverage shared, highly scalable elastic cloud resources for greater efficiency and improved capabilities. Cloud-native JVMs increase performance and agility by sharing information to leverage powerful optimizations across entire JVM fleets.

What are the characteristics of a cloud native JVM?

Cloud Native JVMs optimize application performance by using opportunities available with cloud technology. A cloud native JVM is defined by three characteristics: 

1. It must have all the functionality of a JVM and be compliant with the Java SE specification.  

2. It must utilize shared services running in the cloud for core JVM functionality.  

3. It must share information that is leveraged for insights and optimizations across JVMs 

How do cloud native JVMs augment the benefits of traditional JVMs?

Cloud-native JVMs increase the performance, scalability and efficiency of traditional JVMs. In a cloud-native JVM, each component has been optimized for the cloud, meaning JVM components, such as JIT compilation and garbage collection, are individually optimized.  

JIT compilation can improve application performance by employing cloud resources. Traditional JIT compilers are located on the JVM, which is a resource-constrained machine; high optimization levels may not be practical due to resource limitations. JIT compilation on cloud-native JVMs can move past this limitation, opening the opportunity for cloud-native compilation. Cloud-native JIT compilers offload JIT workloads from each JVM to the cloud, where a single compiler runs for all JVMs in the environment, easing the burden on JVMs so they can be more performant. This approach separates the heavy lifting of compiling bytecode to optimized machine code from the actual running of Java applications, allowing the entire platform to run more efficiently. 

Garbage collection is another process in the JVM that can leverage cloud resources to maximize its capabilities. Traditional garbage collectors must pause an application to manage memory. Garbage collection occurs at unpredicted frequencies, meaning these shut offs cannot be accounted for before they occur. Garbage collectors can use cloud resources and run concurrently with the application to forgo the pauses altogether.   

What new opportunities exist with cloud-native JVMs?

Beyond performance, scalability and efficiency, cloud native JVM’s provide newly realized opportunities for insight, visibility, and operational intelligence. With the cloud-native JVM, data can be gathered and implemented into an application instantaneously, for insights and visibility. This allows the application platform to locate real-time opportunities in newly gathered information to follow patterns and shortcut tasks. Cloud-native JVMs enables better operational intelligence capabilities because one JVM can receive data and communicate its learned feedback to improve the performance of entire JVM fleet.  

What is the role of Azul in cloud native JVMs?

Azul has long been a leader in Java innovation, and now is taking JVMs into a cloud native world. Azul Platform Prime is the world’s only cloud native JVM, helping companies get the most out of cloud technology. Platform Prime can run with Azul’s Cloud Native Compiler, which offloads JIT workloads to cloud resources; it uses resources more efficiently and results in optimized code that’s more performant. Azul is leading the development of Java for the cloud world, opening new opportunities for enterprises to leverage the cloud.