D vs VM-based platforms

[Benji Smith]

Sean Kelly wrote:
> Benji Smith wrote:
>>
>> Lots of great info. Thanks. I didn't know that the x86 had support for 
>> profiling, debugging, sandboxing, etc.
>>
>> I'd actually argue, though, that these kinds of features are actually 
>> VM features, even if they have actually been implemented on silicon.
> 
> Since the name "virtual machine" implies the virtualization of a 
> machine, it seems reasonable that a good VM would provide all the 
> features normally found in a non-virtual (ie. real) machine.  Why should 
> these features be offered only in software?  Particularly at a time 
> where hardware support for VMs is being explicitly added to hardware to 
> improve performance?
> 
> 
> Sean

I agree. A good virtual machine will provide all of the features of a 
real machine. The opposite, though, is not necessarily true. A real 
machine doesn't necessarily provide all of the features of a typical 
virtual machine.

--benji