ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Tracing just-in-time compilation

Okay, let's imagine you're playing with some building blocks. You want to build a tower, but you don't know how to make it yet. So you ask your mom for help. She gives you some instructions on how to build it, and you start following them.

Now, imagine these building blocks are like the computer code that makes up a program. Just like you need instructions to build your tower, the computer needs instructions to run a program.

But there's a problem: sometimes, the computer doesn't have all the instructions it needs right away. This is where just-in-time (JIT) compilation comes in. It's like your mom giving you more instructions as you need them, instead of all at once.

So, let's say you're building your tower, but you need some more instructions to keep going. Your mom gives you these extra instructions, and you keep building.

JIT compilation does something similar. As the program is running, it realizes it needs more code to keep going. Instead of stopping and waiting for all the code to be ready before it can run, JIT compilation generates the missing code on the fly, just like your mom giving you extra instructions for your tower.

But, just like building your tower, sometimes things don't go as planned. You might get stuck, or you might not understand one of the instructions. This is where tracing comes in.

Tracing is like having a grown-up watch you build your tower and make sure you're doing everything right. If you make a mistake or get stuck, the grown-up can help you fix it or show you what to do.

In a similar way, tracing JIT compilation keeps an eye on the program as it's running, making sure it's doing what it's supposed to. If it notices a mistake, it can correct it or give the program more information to keep going.

So, tracing JIT compilation is like building a tower with your mom's help, while a grown-up watches to make sure everything goes smoothly. It helps the program run better by generating missing code on the fly and making sure everything is working as it should.