Different Types of JIT Compiler in .NET

Quick Overview:
Explore the types of JIT compiler in .NET and comprehensively understand it’s operation within a .NET application. Uncover the various JIT compiler variants that can significantly improve the efficiency, performance, and speed of your .NET applications. This blog also addresses the specific requirements of dotnet developers, providing an all-inclusive resource to strengthen your foundational knowledge.

Comparing the Different JIT Compilers in .NET

When developers write code, they use high-level human-readable programming languages like C#, F#, VB, Python, and more. But, all these languages are not understandable by the machine. At such times, the compiler helps the developer to convert the code into machine language.

In the .NET ecosystem, the JIT compiler is used for fulfilling this purpose. It helps to translate the code and help the machine to understand and execute it accordingly. However, there are multiple types of JIT compilers in .NET, which you should be aware of. It will help you use the most relevant one for your project. So, let’s have a look at all of them.

What is JIT Compiler in .NET Framework?

A JIT or Just-In-Time compiler is a foundational component for running the .NET applications. It functions on the basis of dynamic code translations, leading to optimizing the code during the runtime. JIT is also compatible with compiling a specific method, class, or function, helping to enhance the application speed and performance.

The primary purpose of using the JIT compiler is its capability to compile all .NET-supported programming languages. Whether you develop .NET software using C#, Visual Basic, or F#, it can compile them all and run on a specific platform.

In addition, JIT gets its leverage of multi-language compilation from CLR (Common Language Runtime). The CLR converts the programming language code into an intermediate language, understandable by the .NET compilation program. Further, the JIT takes that intermediate language as input and converts it to the machine language.

Additionally, the Just-In-Time compiler offers numerous pros and cons as follows.

Pros of Just-In-Time Compilation

• The JIT compiler supports to enhance the performance and speed with its runtime compilation feature. It’s more flexible than the AOT compiler and provides efficient code aligning with the underlying hardware requirements.
• JIT compilers help to increase the adaptability. If you add a new method function or modify the hardware, it can efficiently utilize that modification due to runtime compilation and work per requirements.
• The memory utilization gets optimized with JIT compilation in .NET applications. It reduced the memory footprint, improving the memory allocation and grade collection. Therefore, you save memory and processing resources.
• The loading time is reduced and optimized with the help of Just-In-Time compilation. It executes only the required piece of code instead of a complete program. Due to this, the application loads faster, leading to enhanced user satisfaction and retention.

Cons of Just-In-Time Compilation

• JIT compilation uses a lot of cache memory, which can sometimes put additional load on the processor.
• The JIT compiler needs additional time to load initially. But applications get loaded faster with it.
• The debugging can be more challenging with JIT compilation. So, you should always hire ASP.NET developers from a firm with 15+ years of experience in the .NET development domain.

The Working of JIT Compiler

The working of the JIT compiler is quite streamlined. However, before you learn the JIT works, you must know that there’s another compiler present that provides the input to the JIT compiler. To understand it easily and instantly, you should undergo the following steps.

• Step 1: The application’s source code written in C#, F#, and Visual Basic gets passed to the traditional compiler.
• Step 2: The traditional compiler uses the source code as input and starts converting it to MSIL or MS intermediate language.
• Step 3: The converted source code (intermediate language code) gets passed to the JIT compiler. It assesses the behavior and other code characteristics.
• Step 4: The JIT compiler starts its functions by applying dead code elimination, loop unrolling, and inlining. All these techniques are used to optimize code for the runtime.
• Step 5: JIT initiates the compilation and translates the intermediate language code to machine language, i.e., 0s and 1s.

Now, whenever the user calls a method, function, or class, the JIT compiler will execute that code piece with the current variable value. That’s how JIT compilation works in the background and leverages to use any .NET programming language for building top-notch applications. And as a result, you get CPU-specific code, which boosts the .NET software speed.

Types of JIT Compilers in .NET: A Brief To All Kinds

In the .NET ecosystem, you can find the following three primary JIT compilers.

• The Pre-JIT Compiler
• The Normal JIT Compiler
• The Econo JIT Compiler

Let’s have a look at them all.

The Pre-JIT Compiler

The Pre-JIT compiler type is popular among dotnet developers. The pre-JIT compiler can potentially convert the whole source to native code in one cycle. With the help of NGen, it creates a native image of the application that can be run on a single platform.

For better understanding, suppose you have a cross-platform compatible .NET application able to run on Windows, Linux, and macOS. When you use a pre-JIT compiler on its source code, you will get a platform-specific app file. Thus, now your .NET application will run on only one of the mentioned operating systems.

Furthermore, pre-JIT provides an advantage over other JIT compiler types. It eliminates the initial compilation delay, boosting the .NET application loading speed and performance. You get the benefit of the warm startup, which means that assembly data remains available in the cache memory for faster access and execution. As a result, the disk doesn’t have to look into the disk drive, saving the overall time.

The Normal JIT Compiler

The normal JIT compiler works at runtime and executes only those methods that are called at a specific time. For instance, suppose you have a program with different methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. If you call the addition method, the normal JIT compiler will only compile that specific method. Other methods will remain uncompiled.

Further, the compiled method will be stored in the memory and called “jitted.” Also, when that compiled method will be called in the future, it will not require JIT compilation. The application will directly access and utilize the compiled method from cache memory.

The Econo JIT Compiler

The working of the Econo JIT compiler is similar to the normal JIT compiler. It also compiles only the methods called during the runtime. But, it doesn’t save them in the memory. Due to it, the application performance gets more optimized as compared to speed while using a normal JIT compiler.

Nowadays, Econo JIT is not used and not even available for .NET development. Its usage was stopped when Microsoft eliminated the support for .NET 2.0. Therefore, you should only know about this compiler for clarification about types of JIT compilers in .NET.

An Insight To Use Cases of JIT Compiler

With the help of technologies in the .NET ecosystem, such as .NET Standard, .NET Core, ASP.NET MVC web application development framework, and more, you can create exceptional business software. JIT can help you optimize the app functioning in the following scenarios.

• When you need your web, desktop, and mobile application to be fast and high in performance.
• When your application contains components built using different programming languages.
• When you use dynamic languages, such as Ruby, Python, and JavaScript.
• When you require an application providing real-time notifications and processing real-time data.
• When you want to build games with physics simulation for smooth gameplay.

Besides, there are many more use cases of JIT compiler. To know its compatibility for your project, contact Positiwise Software Pvt Ltd, a pioneer dotnet development company.

The Need To Hire Dotnet Developers

Dotnet developers are the primary requirement for leveraging the benefits of JIT in your .NET application. Onboarding experienced developers will lead you to write structured, clean, and precise code for your software. It will help the JIT compiler to convert the intermediate language code to the machine language efficiently. As a result, your .NET app will become outstanding in performance across digital platforms and operating systems.

In addition, whenever you hire dotnet developers, ensure of the following factors:

• They should possess a minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience.
• They have worked on different projects per size, type, and domain.
• They must possess technical and communication skills.
• They should understand your requirements and provide relevant suggestions.

To understand whether your team of developers is proficient, conduct an interview before hiring. Moreover, you can provide them with a technical task to complete. And based on its result, you can finalize your hiring decision. Although, it’s always recommended to outsource .NET developers to save time, money, and effort in the long run. Rest all depend on your particular requirements.

Concluding Up

Just-In-Time compiler is an advanced dynamic compilation mechanism that is widely used for .NET-based applications. In the .NET environment, it’s a main part of the common language runtime. Due to this, the software speed and performance get refined, and customers experience smooth navigation.

Mainly there are three types of JIT compilers: pre-JIT, normal JIT, and Econo JIT compilers. Among all three, Econo JIT is now not available. It’s read to understand its working and differentiate it from the other two JIT compilers. In addition, the pre-JIT compiler uses the MS intermediate language and compiles it in a single process. Also, it outputs a file that can only be run on one compatible platform.

On the other hand, normal JIT compiles only the called method and stores it in the cache memory. Using the type of compiler depends on the requirements, for which one should consult a .NET development company.