1. A method for implementing a just-in-time compiler, comprising: obtaining a plurality of high-level code templates in a high-level programming language, wherein the high-level programming language is designed for compilation to an intermediate language capable of execution by a virtual machine, and wherein each high-level code template selected from the plurality of high-level code templates represents an instruction in the intermediate language; compiling the plurality of high-level code templates to native code to obtain a plurality of optimized native code templates, wherein compiling the plurality of high-level code templates is performed, prior to runtime, using an optimizing static compiler designed for runtime use with the virtual machine; and implementing the just-in-time compiler using the plurality of optimized native code templates, wherein the just-in-time compiler is configured to substitute a copy of an optimized native code template selected from the plurality of optimized native code templates when a corresponding instruction in the intermediate language is encountered at runtime.