Just-In-Time (JIT) compilers dynamically translate code into machine instructions at runtime, enabling faster execution compared to interpreted approaches. In processor emulation, target machine instructions are often interpreted by the host system, which introduces significant performance overhead. This project aims to bridge the performance gap between interpreted emulation and native execution by investigating how JIT compilation techniques can improve the efficiency of emulated processors.

The general problem addressed in this project is how Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation can improve the performance of processor emulation compared to traditional interpreter-based methods, this can greatly aid in testing and developing software for emulated platforms.

The key issues to investigate include identifying performance bottlenecks in interpreters and examining how JIT compilation techniques can mitigate these limitations.

The project will consist of: - creating a small suite of test programs - creating a baseline interpreter for a specific architecture - creating a JIT compiler for the same architecture - gathering and comparing performance figures for each implementation.