JIT vs AOT Performance under Edge Memory Constraints

Determine the comparative performance characteristics of just-in-time compiled runtimes such as Node.js versus ahead-of-time compiled languages such as Go when deployed using Docker containers and Nanos unikernels under constrained and dynamic memory conditions typical of industrial edge environments.

Background

The paper investigates the trade-offs between Docker containers and Nanos unikernels for edge workloads, focusing on differences in execution models. The authors note that while theoretical comparisons exist, practical implications under constrained and dynamic memory conditions at the industrial edge have been underexplored.

To address this gap, the paper conducts a comparative benchmark using Go (AOT) and Node.js (JIT) applications under varying memory constraints. The explicit uncertainty highlighted is how JIT runtimes compare to AOT languages in such environments, motivating the empirical analysis.