Visualizations of memory layouts in software programs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016124645-A1
Application number	US-201414533948-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the execution of a software program. During operation, the system obtains a memory layout for an object instance in a software program, wherein the memory layout includes a set of offsets and a set of allocated sizes of a set of components associated with the object instance. Next, the system uses the memory layout to determine a first memory space occupied by data in the object instance and a second memory space occupied by padding in the object instance. The system then displays a visualization of the memory layout on the computer system, wherein the visualization includes a first graphical distinction between the first memory space and the second memory space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
obtaining a memory layout for an object instance in a software program, wherein the memory layout comprises a set of offsets and a set of allocated sizes of a set of components associated with the object instance; using the memory layout to determine, by a computer system:
a first memory space occupied by data in the object instance; and
a second memory space occupied by padding in the object instance; and
displaying a visualization of the memory layout on the computer system, wherein the visualization comprises a first graphical distinction between the first memory space and the second memory space.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a memory consumption and a padding size of the object instance on the computer system.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
using the memory layout to determine, by the computer system:
a first field associated with a first level of an inheritance hierarchy of the object instance; and
a second field associated with a second level of the inheritance hierarchy; and
including a second graphical distinction between the first and second fields in the visualization.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical distinction comprises a difference in transparency between the first and second memory spaces.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical distinction comprises a difference in color between the first and second memory spaces.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first memory space comprises:
a header; metadata; and one or more fields.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein providing the visualization of the memory layout to the user comprises:
displaying the first and second memory spaces in a grid based on the set of offsets and the set of allocated sizes.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the memory layout is associated with an execution context for the software program.

9 . A method, comprising:
obtaining a memory layout for an object instance in a software program, wherein the memory layout comprises a set of offsets and a set of allocated sizes of a set of components associated with the object instance; using the memory layout to determine, by a computer system:
a first field associated with a first level of an inheritance hierarchy of the object instance; and
a second field associated with a second level of the inheritance hierarchy; and
displaying a visualization of the memory layout on the computer system, wherein the visualization comprises a first graphical distinction between the first and second fields.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
using the memory layout to determine, by the computer system:
a first memory space occupied by data in the object instance; and
a second memory space occupied by padding in the object instance; and
including a second graphical distinction between the first and second memory spaces in the visualization.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first graphical distinction comprises a difference in transparency between the first and second memory spaces.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the graphical distinction comprises a difference in color between the first and second memory spaces.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the visualization of the memory layout to the user comprises:
displaying the first and second fields in a grid based on the set of offsets and the set of allocated sizes.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first field is owned by a first class in the inheritance hierarchy and the second field is owned by a second class that is a superclass of the first class in the inheritance hierarchy.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the memory layout is associated with an execution context for the software program.

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
obtaining a memory layout for an object instance in a software program, wherein the memory layout comprises a set of offsets and a set of allocated sizes of a set of components associated with the object instance; determining, from the memory layout:
a first memory space occupied by data in the object instance; and
a second memory space occupied by padding in the object instance; and
providing a visualization of the memory layout to a user, wherein the visualization comprises a first graphical distinction between the first memory space and the second memory space.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , the method further comprising:
determining, from the memory layout:
a first field associated with a first level of an inheritance hierarchy of the object instance; and
a second field associated with a second level of the inheritance hierarchy; and
including a second graphical distinction between the first and second fields in the visualization.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , the method further comprising:
identifying, from the memory layout, an inefficiently used portion of the first memory space; and including a third graphical distinction between the inefficiently used portion and a remainder of the first memory space in the visualization.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the first graphical distinction comprises a difference in transparency between the first and second memory spaces.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the graphical distinction comprises a difference in color between the first and second memory spaces.

Assignees

• Oracle Int Corp

Inventors

• Denise Jean-Francois
• Drach Steven J
• Hunt Charles J

Classifications

• G06F11/3466

  Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring · CPC title

• G06F11/323

  Visualisation of programs or trace data · CPC title

• G06F9/50

  Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU] · CPC title

• G06F3/0604 Primary

  Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management · CPC title

• G06F3/0653

  Monitoring storage devices or systems · CPC title