HipHop Virtual Machine (HHVM) review
A Hack execution runtime with JIT compilation, not a tool for managing virtual machines.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
HipHop Virtual Machine (HHVM) is an open-source runtime for executing Hack programs, aimed at developers building or running Hack applications. It combines the Hack runtime and typechecker with just-in-time compilation. Despite its name, HHVM’s described role is program execution, not creating or managing virtual machines. That distinction matters for buyers comparing products in a virtual machine software category: Hack developers looking for a runtime may find a fit, while teams seeking VM provisioning or lifecycle management should look elsewhere.
For application delivery, HHVM can run standalone command-line scripts or serve web applications through its built-in Proxygen server. It also supports FastCGI integration with web servers such as nginx and Apache. Its HNI extension interface, built-in and dynamic extensions, and hphpd debugger address extension and debugging needs within the Hack runtime. Deployment is self-hosted, with official packages focused on x86_64 Linux and Docker images available for containerized deployment. These options suit teams that can operate a Linux-based runtime or use Docker; they do not make HHVM a general-purpose VM manager.
HHVM is open source and has a free plan, with documentation and community support as its listed support channels. That makes it a candidate for organizations of different sizes that specifically need to execute Hack code, provided Linux platform requirements fit their environment. The trade-off is category scope: the listed capabilities center on a language runtime, JIT compilation, web serving, and extensions rather than virtual machine creation or management. Choose HHVM for Hack execution and its associated serving options; choose another product if the main requirement is managing virtual machines.
HipHop Virtual Machine (HHVM) pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Runs Hack programs with just-in-time compilation and a built-in typechecker.
- Supports standalone scripts and web serving through Proxygen or FastCGI.
- Open-source, self-hosted deployment with Docker images for Linux.
- Where it doesn't
- Official prebuilt support focuses on x86_64 Linux.
- It focuses on Hack execution, not virtual machine creation or management.
- Support channels are documentation and community.
HipHop Virtual Machine (HHVM) fact sheet, pricing and score →
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