JIT Optimization and Weak References

I examine your source code, and I got NullPointerException when JIT compile my method corresponding to your method "updateOrdering" and GC occurs during sorting.

But I got NullPointerException when Collections.sort whether with or without unwrapped = null. This maybe occurs difference between my sample source code and yours, or Java version difference. I will examine if you tell Java version.

I use java below version.

java version "1.7.0_40"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_40-b43)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 24.0-b56, mixed mode)

If you want to cheat on JIT compilation, the below code insert your source code instead unwrapped = null(e.g.). Then, JIT compilation doesn't eliminates unwrapped code.

long value = unwrapped.size() * unwrapped.size();
if(value * value % 3 == 1) {
  //Because value * value % 3 always is 1 or 0, this code can't reach. 
  //Insert into this the source code that use unwrapped array, for example, show unwrapped array.
}

My examination result is below.

• If JIT don't optimize my method corresponding to updateOrdering, no NullPointerException occurs.
• If JIT optimize my method, then NullPointerException occurs at some point.
• If JIT optimize my method inserting the above source code cheating JIT compiler, then no NullPointerException occurs.

So, I(and you) suggest JIT optimze eliminates unwrapped code, then NullPointerException occurs.

By the way, if you want to show JIT compiler optimization, you invoke java with -XX:+PrintCompilation.
If you want to show GC, with -verbose:gc.

Just for information, my sample source code is below.

public class WeakSampleMain {
    private static List<WeakReference<Integer>> weakList = new LinkedList<>();
    private static long sum = 0;
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("start");
        int size = 1_000_000;
        for(int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
            Integer value = Integer.valueOf(i);
            weakList.add(new WeakReference<Integer>(value));
        }
        for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
            jitSort();
        }
        GcTask gcTask = new GcTask();
        Thread thread = new Thread(gcTask);
        thread.start();
        for(int i = 0; i < 100000; i++) {
            jitSort();
        }
        thread.interrupt();
        System.out.println(sum);
    }

    public static void jitSort() {
        List<Integer> unwrappedList = unwrapped();
        removeNull();
        Collections.sort(weakList, 
                new Comparator<WeakReference<Integer>>() {

                    @Override
                    public int compare(WeakReference<Integer> o1,
                            WeakReference<Integer> o2) {
                        return Integer.compare(o1.get(), o2.get());
                    }
        }
                );
        for(int i = 0; i < Math.min(weakList.size(), 1000); i++) {
            sum += weakList.get(i).get();
        }
        unwrappedList = null;
//          long value = (sum + unwrappedList.size());
//          if((value * value) % 3 == 2) {
//              for(int i = 0; i < unwrappedList.size(); i++) {
//                  System.out.println(unwrappedList.get(i));
//              }
//          }
    }

    public static List<Integer> unwrapped() {
        ArrayList<Integer> list = new ArrayList<Integer>();
        for(WeakReference<Integer> ref : weakList) {
            Integer i = ref.get();
            if(i != null) {
                list.add(i);
            }
        }
        return list;
    }

    public static void removeNull() {
        Iterator<WeakReference<Integer>> itr = weakList.iterator();
        while(itr.hasNext()) {
            WeakReference<Integer> ref = itr.next();
            if(ref.get() == null) {
                itr.remove();
            }
        }
    }

    public static class GcTask implements Runnable {
        private volatile int result = 0;
        private List<Integer> stockList = new ArrayList<Integer>();
        public void run() {
            while(true) {
                if(Thread.interrupted()) {
                    break;
                }
                int size = 1000000;
                stockList = new ArrayList<Integer>(size);
                for(int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
                    stockList.add(new Integer(i));
                }
                if(System.currentTimeMillis() % 1000 == 0) {
                    System.out.println("size : " + stockList.size());
                }
            }
        }

        public int getResult() {
            return result;
        }
    }
}