[Caml-list] Keeping track of values on the external heap

[Markus Mottl <markus.mottl@gmail.com>]

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Hi,

the runtime has recently seen some improvements for keeping track of memory
resources on the external heap, e.g. `caml_alloc_custom_mem`.  Though we
can now tell the GC the exact size on the external heap that custom values
consume at allocation time, we also need to keep track of values whose
memory consumption may change over their lifetime.

I've seen the new functions `caml_alloc_dependent_memory` and
`caml_free_dependent_memory`.  They are not mentioned anywhere in the
manual, but judging from the comment in their implementation, they appear
to address the above mentioned problem.

Is it the correct intended use if I keep track of the size of a custom
value at allocation time and, if it changes later, to pass the size
difference to `caml_alloc_dependent_memory` if it is positive (i.e. the
value grew) and its absolute value to `caml_free_dependent_memory` if it is
negative (i.e. the value shrank)?

Best regards,
Markus

-- 
Markus Mottl        http://www.ocaml.info        markus.mottl@gmail.com

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