MALLOCCHECK(3-SVR3) RISC/os Reference Manual  MALLOCCHECK(3-SVR3)



NAME
     malloc, free, realloc, xmalloc, xfree, xrealloc, alloc_new,
          alloc_dispose, malloc_status - memory allocator with
          checking

DESCRIPTION
     The malloccheck library (libmalloccheck.a or -lmalloccheck)
     provides replacements for libc's malloc, free, and realloc
     functions, and libp's xmalloc, xfree, xrealloc, alloc_new,
     and alloc_dispose functions.  These functions implement
     memory allocation with extensive checking to catch program
     bugs.  Specifically:

          Blocks are surrounded by magic words to check for pro-
          grams that write more more than they allocate.

          The block is initialized non-zero to catch programs
          that assume zero'd data.

          Blocks are never reused.

          Blocks are overwritten on free to catch programs that
          reference them after freeing.

          Freeing an already free block is checked.

          realloc of freed blocks is flagged, as is
          realloc(NULL), to help catch non-portable usage.

          Calling malloc_status(0) at the end of the program will
          check for problems that haven't come up during the nor-
          mal malloc/free checking.  Some statistics are printed.
          malloc_status(1) does this and additionally prints
          blocks that have not been freed (catch your memory
          leaks).

          Setting malloctrace to an address with dbx(1) allows
          you to set a breakpoint to see who allocates that
          address.

SEE ALSO
     malloc(3)













                        Printed 11/19/92                   Page 1