Finally! Safari to get a register-based, direct-threaded, high-level bytecode engine, with a sliding register window calling convention!
Fans of animal cross-species breeding rejoice! A “SquirrelFish” has been discovered, and if it’s half as tasty as it looks, we’re in for quite a treat!
Actually, according to the folks over at Surfin’ Safari, SquirrelFish is the code-name for their completely new JavaScript interpreter for WebKit-based browser that promises huge speed increases over the current generation of Safari (see the above graph). Actually, as simple as that graph is, I am ashamed to admit I don’t understand it. Apparently “SunSpider runs” are important, and SquirrelFish can run more SunSpiders than anyone, so I guess that’s good.
Due to be released in a mater of weeks, many are hoping to see SquirrelFish make its way onto the iPhone/iPod touch as well.
Of course, the real question here is… why do software developers bother with “code-names”? If you send out press releases announcing the code-name, doesn’t that in effect “break the code”, and make it the actual name? I guess the idea of a code-name just sounds cooler and helps lends an air of mystery to the project that entices people to check it out. But I am betting that if the name “SunSpider” stuck, SquirrelFish is likely here to stay as well.
you have such a sense of humor .. the last sentence made me laugh loudly!!