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The x86-to-vliw transformation was implemented in software. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmeta under "code morphing software". Similar to Rosetta.

I think that's how pretty much all of the high-performance desktop & server CPUs operate now.

Was it even possible to write Transmeta-native code?

At least if you were Transmeta. Not sure they ever made the ability publicly available. That would've been fairly contrary to their core message.

Nvidia's Denver ARM CPUs do the same thing

Written by pretty much the same people.