Chakra (JScript engine)

Chakra is a JScript engine developed by Microsoft for its Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) web browser. A distinctive feature of the 32-bit version of the engine is that it JIT compiles scripts on a separate CPU core, parallel to the web browser.^[1][2] The engine is also able to access the computer's graphics processing unit (GPU), in particular for 3D graphics and video.^[3]

Though Microsoft has in the past pointed out that other elements, such as rendering and marshalling, are just as important for a browser's overall performance,^[4] their improvements to the engine was in response to evolving competing browsers, compared to which IE8 was lagging behind in terms of JavaScript processing speed.^[5] SunSpider tests performed on November 18, 2009 showed the PDC version of IE9 executing scripts much faster than IE8, but slower than Firefox 3.6, Chrome 4, and WebKit Nightly.^[4] The same test performed on March 15, 2010 showed the first IE9 Platform Preview (using the then-current version of Chakra) to be faster than Firefox (with SpiderMonkey), but slower than Safari (with SquirrelFish Extreme), Chrome (with V8), and Opera (with Carakan).

On March 8, 2011, Microsoft published results showing the 32-bit Internet Explorer 9 Final Release (using the current version of Chakra) to be faster than Safari, Firefox (with TraceMonkey), Chrome, and Opera.^[6]

March 2011 performance tests for ZDNet concluded that Internet Explorer 9 (32-bit), Chrome 10, and Firefox 4 release candidate were "pretty evenly matched."^[7]

See also

• Internet Explorer 9
• JScript
• JavaScript
• JavaScript engine
• ECMAScript
• List of ECMAScript engines
• Windows Script Host

References

1. ^ Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols (March 10, 2011). "Chrome 10 vs. Internet Explorer 9 Reconsidered". ZDNet. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/networking/chrome-10-vs-internet-explorer-9-reconsidered/792?pg=2. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
2. ^ Muchmore, Michael (March 16, 2010). "Internet Explorer 9: An Early Look". PC Magazine. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2361444,00.asp. Retrieved March 19, 2010. 
3. ^ "Internet Explorer 9 showcases 'GPU-powered' browsing". IBTimes. March 16, 2010. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20100316/internet-explorershowcases-039-gpu-powered-039-browsing.htm. Retrieved March 19, 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Hachamovitch, Dean (November 23, 2009). "An Early Look At IE9 for Developers". IEBlog on Microsoft Developer Network. Microsoft. http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/11/18/an-early-look-at-ie9-for-developers.aspx. Retrieved March 19, 2010. 
5. ^ Hachamovitch, Dean (March 18, 2010). "HTML5, Hardware Accelerated: First IE9 Platform Preview Available for Developers". IEBlog on Microsoft Developer Network. Microsoft. http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2010/03/16/html5-hardware-accelerated-first-ie9-platform-preview-available-for-developers.aspx. Retrieved March 19, 2010. 
6. ^ "WebKit Sunspider JavaScript Benchmark Results". Internet Explorer 9 Platform Demos: Test Drive. Microsoft. http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/benchmarks/SunSpider/Default.html. Retrieved March 19, 2010. 
7. ^ Adrian Kingsley-Hughes (March 15, 2011). "IE9 vs Chrome 10 vs Firefox 4 RC vs Opera 11.01 vs Safari 5 - The BIG browser benchmark!". ZDNet. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/ie9-vs-chrome-10-vs-firefox-4-rc-vs-opera-1101-vs-safari-5-the-big-browser-benchmark/11890?pg=6. Retrieved 2011-03-21.