Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to High-order Virtual Machine (HVM) – A Parallel Functional Runtime

HVM1 (2022): a massively parallel, optimal functional runtime in Rust - HigherOrderCO/HVM1

High-order Virtual Machine is a parallel functional runtime launched in 2022. It enables developers to execute functional programming code with support for higher-order functions across multiple processors… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. High-order Virtual Machine (HVM) – A Parallel Functional Runtime launched in 2022; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   A small virtual machine written in C▲212

   "interesting" VM in C. Let's see how this goes. Contribute to tekknolagi/carp development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2014 · github.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Sub-millisecond VM sandboxes using CoW memory forking▲311

   I wanted to see how fast an isolated code sandbox could start if I never had to boot a fresh VM. So instead of launching a new microVM per execution, I boot Firecracker once with Python and numpy already loaded, then snapshot the full VM state. Every execution after that creates a new KVM VM backed by a `MAP_PRIVATE` mapping of the snapshot memory, so Linux gives me copy-on-write pages automatically. That means each sandbox starts from an already-running Python process inside a real VM, runs the code, and exits. These are real KVM VMs, not containers: separate guest kernel, separate guest…

   Mar 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Tail Recursion Optimization for the JVM▲107

   Optimizer library for tail recursive calls in Java bytecode - Sipkab/jvm-tail-recursion

   2020 · github.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Second State VM▲78

   High performance secure & portable Rust functions in Node.js

   2020 · secondstate.io · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Different ways to implement virtual machines, benchmarked▲20

   A demonstration of ways to implement 'threaded code,' a technique used in Forth and in virtual machines like the JVM. - shadowofneptune/threaded-code-benchmark

   2022 · github.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Smol machines – subsecond coldstart, portable virtual machines▲499

   Branchable computing by using a portable, lightweight, self-contained virtual machine - smol-machines/smolvm

   Apr 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   microvm – a minimalist machine type for QEMU inspired by Firecracker▲145

   2019 · github.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   AVR-VM – VM with JIT-compiler for ATMega32 written in Rust▲78

   VM with JIT-compiler for ATMega32 written in Rust. Contribute to MackieLoeffel/avr-vm development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   ArcaneVM – A Fully Homomorphic Encryption Brainfuck Virtual Machine▲131

   A Fully Homomorphic Encryption Brainfuck virtual machine - f-prime/arcanevm

   2019 · github.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    krunvm – Create and run lightweight VMs from OCI images▲82

    Create microVMs from OCI images. Contribute to slp/krunvm development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2021 · github.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Tiny VM sandbox in C with apps in Rust, C and Zig▲196

    Minimalist, dependency-free virtual machine sandbox for microcontrollers and other resource-constrained devices. Single C file, no dynamic memory allocations, asynchronous design, pure C99 - ringtailsoftware/uvm32

    Dec 2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Find the best local LLM for your hardware, ranked by benchmarks▲283

    Find the local LLM that actually runs and performs best on your hardware. Ranked by real, recency-aware benchmarks, not parameter count. One command, run it instantly. - Andyyyy64/whichllm

    May 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Hydrogen, a multithread non-blocking Linux server framework in Rust▲154

    Multithreaded, non-blocking Linux server framework in Rust - nathansizemore/hydrogen

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    A compiler and VM for a simple language, in 150 lines of code▲200

    A complete compiler for a simple language (in less than 150 LoC) - 00_readme.md

    2022 · gist.github.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    I spent my vacation writing a modern JVM assembler▲218

    A JVM assembler for the modern age. Contribute to roscopeco/jasm development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2022 · github.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    A thread hierarchy management library in C▲53

    Non-preemptive Thread Hierarchy Manager. Contribute to gueststar/nthm development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2020 · github.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Simple virtual machine, assembler, and C compiler▲99

    simple virtual machine and assembler. Contribute to ronsoros/rvm development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    A minimal stack based VM in C▲60

    A minimal stack-based VM. Contribute to codr7/liblg development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2020 · github.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Holos – QEMU/KVM with a compose-style YAML, GPUs and health checks▲56

    I got tired of libvirt XML and Vagrant's Ruby/reload dance for single-host VM stacks, so I built a compose-style runtime directly on QEMU/KVM. What's there: GPU passthrough as a first-class primitive (VFIO, OVMF, per-instance EFI vars), healthchecks that gate depends_on over SSH, socket-multicast L2 between VMs with no root and no bridge config, cloud-init wired through the YAML, Dockerfile support for provisioning. What it's not: Kubernetes. No clustering, no live migration, no control plane. Single host. Prototype, but I'm running it on real hardware. Curious what breaks for…

    Apr 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

20. 20QA
    Q8, an In-Browser VM for Learning and Visualizing Bytecode Programming▲145

    2017 · anchovieshat.github.io · its alternatives →

21. 21LT
    Lightweight Threads, Channels and Actors for the JVM▲116

    2013 · blog.paralleluniverse.co · its alternatives →

22. 22OA
    Obelisk – a WASM-based deterministic workflow engine▲103

    A lightweight engine for durable execution / deterministic workflows I built with Rust, wasmtime and the WASM Component Model. Its main use is running reliable, long-running workflows that can automatically resume after failures. Looking for feedback on the approach and potential use cases!

    2025 · obeli.sk · its alternatives →

23. 23RA
    RiceVM – A Dis virtual machine and Limbo compiler in Rust▲7

    Hi, I've made a Dis virtual machine and Limbo programming language compiler (called RiceVM) in Rust. It can run Dis bytecode (for example, Inferno OS applications), compile Limbo programs, and includes a fairly complete runtime with garbage collection, concurrency features, and many of the standard modules from Inferno OS's original implementation. The project is still in an early stage, but if you're interested in learning more about RiceVM or trying it out, you can check out the links below: Project's GitHub repo: https://github.com/habedi/ricevm RiceVM documentation:…

    Apr 2026 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Ephemeral VMs in 1 Microsecond▲84

    Contribute to libriscv/drogon-sandbox development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →