Memory efficient classloading to reduce the number of class copies

Abstract

A method is disclosed for reducing memory consumption in a run time environment by reducing copies of code in memory, wherein the method limits, based on the delegation, identical resources in memory and reduces memory consumption by not creating class loaders to load resources that are already loaded by existing class loaders.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . A computer-based system for reducing memory consumption in a run time environment by reducing copies of code in memory, comprising:
 a processor; and   computer storage storing computer readable program code that is executable by said processor to reduce memory consumption in a run time environment by reducing copies of code in memory, said computer storage comprising:   computer readable program code loading an application in said run time environment;   computer readable program code implementing a plurality of class loaders in memory, each class loader in said plurality of class loaders being associated with a resource;   computer readable program code implementing a store in memory comprising a plurality of references to existing class loaders stored in the memory,   computer readable program code implementing a first object adapted to identify at least one resource required by said application, said first object creating a second object adapted to retrieve said at least one resource, said second object determining if an existing class loader is available for loading said at least one resource, said second object determining if a reference exists to said existing class loader for said at least one resource, and said second object delegating task of loading said at least one resource to said existing class loader based on said determined reference; and   computer readable program code limiting, based on said delegation, identical resources in memory and reducing memory consumption by not creating class loaders to load resources that are already loaded by existing class loaders.   
   
   
       31 . The computer-based system of  claim 30 , wherein said first object is a delegation class loader. 
   
   
       32 . The computer-based system of  claim 30 , wherein said second object is a delegation class loader. 
   
   
       33 . The computer-based system of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one resource is a single library. 
   
   
       34 . The computer-based system of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one resource is a single library and its direct dependencies. 
   
   
       35 . The computer-based system of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one resource is a single library and its related libraries. 
   
   
       36 . The computer-based system of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one resource includes one or more classes. 
   
   
       37 . The computer-based system of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one resource includes one or more web pages. 
   
   
       38 . The computer-based system of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one resource is a .Net assembly. 
   
   
       39 . The computer-based system of  claim 30 , wherein said run time environment is a virtual machine environment. 
   
   
       40 . A computer-based method for reducing memory consumption in a run time environment by reducing copies of code in memory, steps of said method executed on a computer, said method comprising:
 loading an application in said run time environment;   implementing a plurality of class loaders in memory, each class loader in said plurality of class loaders being associated with a resource;   implementing a store in memory comprising a plurality of references to existing class loaders stored in the memory,   implementing a first object adapted to identify at least one resource required by said application, said first object creating a second object adapted to retrieve said at least one resource, said second object determining if an existing class loader is available for loading said at least one resource, said second object determining if a reference exists to said existing class loader for said at least one resource, and said second object delegating task of loading said at least one resource to said existing class loader based on said determined reference; and   limiting, based on said delegation, identical resources in memory and reducing memory consumption by not creating class loaders to load resources that are already loaded by existing class loaders.   
   
   
       41 . The computer-based method of  claim 40 , wherein said first object is a delegation class loader. 
   
   
       42 . The computer-based method of  claim 40 , wherein said second object is a delegation class loader. 
   
   
       43 . The computer-based method of  claim 40 , wherein said at least one resource is a single library. 
   
   
       44 . The computer-based method of  claim 40 , wherein said at least one resource is a single library and its direct dependencies. 
   
   
       45 . The computer-based method of  claim 40 , wherein said at least one resource is a single library and its related libraries. 
   
   
       46 . The computer-based method of  claim 40 , wherein said at least one resource includes one or more classes. 
   
   
       47 . The computer-based method of  claim 40 , wherein said at least one resource includes one or more web pages. 
   
   
       48 . The computer-based method of  claim 40 , wherein said at least one resource is a .Net assembly. 
   
   
       49 . The computer-based method of  claim 40 , wherein said run time environment is a virtual machine environment.