METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A TRANSLATION UNIT

A computer system for executing a binary image conversion system which converts instructions from a instruction set of a first, non native computer system to a second, different, native computer system, includes an run-time system which in response to a non-native image of an application program written for a non-native instruction set provides an native instruction or a native instruction routine. The run-time system collects profile data in response to execution of the native instructions to determine execution characteristics of the non-native instruction. Thereafter, the non-native instructions and the profile statistics are fed to a binary translator operating in a background mode and which is responsive to the profile data generated by the run-time system to form a translated native image. The run-time system and the binary translator are under the control of a server process. The non-native image is executed in two different enviroments with first portion executed as an interpreted image and remaining portions as a translated image. The run-time system includes an interpreter which is capable of handling condition codes corresponding to the non-native architecute. A technique is also provided to jacket calls between the two execution enviroments and to support object based services. Preferred techniques are also provide to determine interprocedural translation units.