Abstract: A system 300 and method for fast matching of JAVA classpaths in a shared classes JVM system by identifying classpaths of loaded classes and storing a local array (110, 210) of identified classpaths in order to avoid checking on a subsequent class load for a particular JVM. This allows dramatic speeding up of class-loading in cases where multiple JVMs are running similar applications.

Abstract: A JVM shared classes cache computer system (300) and method therefor (500) allowing efficient dynamic updates by referencing (120, 220) entries in the cache (400) and using an indication (460) of the staleness of an indexed entry, whereby a stale cached class can be identified. Each JVM has a local hash table (130, 230) containing a classpath entry's string name, and a circular linked list, each entry of which represents a classpath in the cache which contains an associated classpath entry, each item in the linked list comprising a pointer to a classpath in the cache, an index of that classpath entry in the classpath, and a pointer to the next item in the list (or itself if the list contains only one item). This provides an extremely efficient technique for marking shared cache classes as ‘stale’, allowing for dynamic updates.