Ahead Of Time Compiler
An Ahead Of Time (AOT) compiler is a tool that translates source code or intermediate code into native machine code before the program is executed, rather than during runtime. It is commonly used in programming languages and frameworks to improve performance by reducing startup time and runtime overhead. AOT compilation is often contrasted with Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation, which occurs dynamically while the program runs.
Developers should use AOT compilation when building applications that require fast startup times, predictable performance, and reduced memory usage, such as mobile apps, embedded systems, or high-performance computing tasks. It is particularly beneficial in environments with limited resources or where runtime compilation overhead is unacceptable, as it eliminates the need for JIT compilation during execution.