Copying collectors with block-structured heaps are unreliable
Copying collectors with block-structured heaps pose reliability challenges in garbage collection. Unpredictable post-collection fragmentation arises from non-commutative evacuation, exacerbated by multiple mutator threads. Mitigating this requires larger heap memory, emphasizing virtual memory and growable heaps for improved reliability.
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The article discusses the reliability challenges of copying collectors with block-structured heaps in garbage collection systems. While simple semi-space collectors offer reliability by ensuring a single heap size for successful allocation, block-structured heaps introduce unreliability due to non-commutative evacuation, leading to unpredictable post-collection fragmentation. The presence of multiple mutator threads further complicates reliability, as the size of the live object graph becomes non-deterministic during collection. Mitigating fragmentation-related unreliability can be achieved by increasing heap memory. The article emphasizes the benefits of virtual memory and growable heaps in managing reliability issues in garbage collection systems, especially in the presence of multiple mutator threads. It concludes by highlighting the importance of flexible heap sizes and the ability to allocate additional memory to enhance system reliability.
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2 commentsA form of reliability that is unreliable, right? :)
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