2.Run the program.

3.Start a debugging session as follows:

gdb -leaks <executable-name> <process-id>

4.Use info heap and info leaks commands to obtain a memory analysis report of the application.

NOTE: From HP WDB 5.7 onwards, the archive version of the run time check library, librtc.a, is not available. You must use the shared version of the library, librtc.[slso], instead.

14.10.7 Configuring memory debugging settings

The following configuration settings are supported to control the level of details of information required to be displayed when debugging memory leaks.

14.10.7.1 Specifying the stack depth

Memory debugging reduces the performance of an application by 20-40% because of stack unwinding. To provide a clear profile of every allocation in the program, the debugger collects the stack trace information for every allocation in the debugged application. Reducing the stack depth (the number of stack frames that the debugger collects for each allocation) reduces the performance degradation.

The set heap-checkframe-countcommand enables you to control the depth of the stack frames that are collected by WDB for each allocation. By default, four stack frames are displayed from the allocating call stack.

To set the depth of the stack frames that is collected by WDB, enter the following command at the gdb prompt:

$ set heap-check frame-count [num]

The stack depth, [num], is the number of stack frames that WDB collects for each allocation.

You can specify a higher value for [num] to view more stack frames for each reported allocation. However, the performance of the application is reduced because of the increased stack depth.

14.10.7.2 Specifying minimum leak size

WDB enables you to specify the minimum leak size for stack trace collection to improve the program's performance.

Stack trace collection slows down the program because it occurs on every allocation call. Therefore, if the program is allocation-intensive, WDB can spend a substantial amount of time collecting stack traces.

You can improve performance by using the command:

14.10 Debugging Memory Problems 173