Re: memory profiling (was calling g_malloc & co via a vtable)

[otaylor redhat com]

Tim Janik <timj gtk org> writes:

> On Mon, 9 Oct 2000, Darin Adler wrote:
> 
> > on 10/6/00 6:55 PM, Tim Janik at timj gtk org wrote:
> > 
> > > that said, i do buy into the idea of using a reliable memory profiler, the
> > > solution to let the (internal) profiler know about allocations that are
> > > meant to be static is to provide g_malloc(), g_new(), g_malloc0(), g_new0()
> > > g_renew() and g_realloc() variants for static data. those would be added to
> > > GMemVTable and be used by a profiler that installs his own memory allocation
> > > functions (could also simply be a boolean flag for the existing functions in
> > > the table).
> > > 
> > > going throughout GLib/Gtk code and doing s/g_malloc()/g_static_malloc()/ where
> > > apropriate is less than 1% of the work required for 1), especially long-term
> > > and it will work much more reliable.
> > > 
> > > the downside of this is, that owen was opposed to it because of increased
> > > API complexity.
> > 
> > I like this idea, and I'd be willing to do some of the work. Not only would
> > this work for the internal profiler, but it would also enable me to make my
> > existing profiler (the one written by Pavel Cisler and Ramiro Estrugo and
> > checked into eazel-tools on cvs.gnome.org) work even better.
> 
> well, you might have a chance convincing owen, maybe he isn't opposed as
> strongly as before...? ;)
> 
> owen, could you please comment on this issue?

And what if the "static allocations" are a an object? A signal
handler on an object? A string returned g_string_free (FALSE)?
Etc.

I don't think it is feasible, or a good idea from a code 
and API cleanliness point of view.

To the extent that this is worth fixing, I think it should be
done in terms of:

 - compile or run time Configurable free-list handling in GLib

 - moving data in GTK+ to be per-display, and an option to 
   close a display.

That's still not going to give you a 0-bytes alloced on exit, but
might be close enough to make people happier....

Regards,
                                        Owen