memory leak
:memory leak: n. An error in a program's dynamic-store allocation logic
that causes it to fail to reclaim discarded memory, leading to eventual
collapse due to memory exhaustion. Also (esp. at CMU) called {core leak}
. These problems were severe on older machines with small,
fixed-size address spaces, and special "leak detection" tools were
commonly written to root them out. With the advent of virtual memory, it
is unfortunately easier to be sloppy about wasting a bit of memory
(although when you run out of memory on a VM machine, it means you've
got a _real_ leak!). See aliasing bug
, fandango on core
, {smash the stack}
}, precedence lossage
, overrun screw
, leaky heap
, leak
Jargon File Version 4.3.1, 29 JUN 2001 =
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