Chakra (JScript engine)
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| Type | JScript engine |
| License | Proprietary / MIT license |
Chakra is a JavaScript engine developed by Microsoft for its 32-bit version of the Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) web browser. While developed originally as closed source proprietary software, in January 2016, it was released as open source software under the MIT license.
A distinctive feature of the engine is that it JIT compiles scripts on a separate CPU core, parallel to the web browser. 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, their improvements to the engine were in response to evolving competing browsers, compared to which IE8 was lagging behind in terms of JavaScript processing speed.
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. 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).
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