Java programmers at every level will find this easy-to-understand yet technically rich description of the java virtual machine (jvm)-the engine of the java language-an invaluable tool in writing better and more efficient java code. Lively text and entertaining java applets on the included cd-rom demystify the elusive jvm and explain all aspects of the jvm architecture, facilities and operation-from java stacks, class files, bytecodes, conversions and verification to the just-in-time compiler implementation of jvm. Complete reference information is also provided for the jvm class file format and all jvm bytecodes.