1. A system for a runtime machine executing an FP program comprising: a first processor capable of implementing said runtime machine; a first heap memory bus coupled to said first processor; a heap memory coupled to said first heap memory bus for storing a heap accessible by and for use by said first processor implementing said runtime machine; a second processor capable of executing a garbage collector; and a second heap memory bus coupled to said second processor and to said heap memory for providing access to said heap by said second processor executing said garbage collector on said heap, wherein said second processor is capable of accessing and executing said garbage collector on said heap in said heap memory without interrupting access by said first processor to said heap in said heap memory.