Finding out # of instantiations of a class

I want to write a program that will let me know
all the currently loaded classes in the current
JVM and the number of instantiations for each
loaded class. Reflection allows me to inspect
a class. Is there anything in Java to allow me
to inspect the JVM itself ?
Thanks
Pho

First you write a JVM . . . . .
No - seriously - each JVM is slightly different depending on who wrote it. If you write your OWN JVM you can keep track of such things (which is how tools like IDEs do it), but I don't know of any such thing that is required in the Specification for JVMs.

Cindy,
I was actually asked this in an interview!
I'm sure it couldn't be that hard considering
that there are profiler tools that can do this
by attaching itself to a running JVM.
See http://www.vmgear.com/Pallocationview.html
I'm asking this question because I'm doing an audit
of my interview "performance" as there were a couple
of questions which I fumbled.
Thanks
Pho
[This message has been edited by Pho Tek (edited November 07, 2001).]

Well, then they have figured out something that I haven't (not too surprising actually

).
When you figure it out, can you come back and fill us in?

[This message has been edited by Cindy Glass (edited November 08, 2001).]