:aliasing bug: n. A class of subtle programming errors that can
arise in code that does dynamic allocation, esp. via
`malloc(3)' or equivalent. If several pointers address
(`aliases for') a given hunk of storage, it may happen that the
storage is freed or reallocated (and thus moved) through one alias
and then referenced through another, which may lead to subtle (and
possibly intermittent) lossage depending on the state and the
allocation history of the malloc {arena}. Avoidable by use of
allocation strategies that never alias allocated core, or by use of
higher-level languages, such as {LISP}, which employ a garbage
collector (see {GC}). Also called a {stale pointer bug}.
See also {precedence lossage}, {smash the stack},
{fandango on core}, {memory leak}, {memory smash},
{overrun screw}, {spam}.
Historical note: Though this term is nowadays associated with
C programming, it was already in use in a very similar sense in the
Algol-60 and FORTRAN communities in the 1960s.
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
arise in code that does dynamic allocation, esp. via
`malloc(3)' or equivalent. If several pointers address
(`aliases for') a given hunk of storage, it may happen that the
storage is freed or reallocated (and thus moved) through one alias
and then referenced through another, which may lead to subtle (and
possibly intermittent) lossage depending on the state and the
allocation history of the malloc {arena}. Avoidable by use of
allocation strategies that never alias allocated core, or by use of
higher-level languages, such as {LISP}, which employ a garbage
collector (see {GC}). Also called a {stale pointer bug}.
See also {precedence lossage}, {smash the stack},
{fandango on core}, {memory leak}, {memory smash},
{overrun screw}, {spam}.
Historical note: Though this term is nowadays associated with
C programming, it was already in use in a very similar sense in the
Algol-60 and FORTRAN communities in the 1960s.
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
Related:
- aliasing bug n.
A class of subtle programming errors that
can arise in code that does dynamic allocation,
esp. via malloc(3) or equivalent. If several pointers... - overrun screw: [C programming] n. A variety of {fandango on
core} produced by scribbling past the end of an array (C
implementations typically have no checks for this error).
This is relatively benign and easy to spot if the... - overrun screw n.
[C programming] A variety of fandango on core produced by scribbling past the end of
implementations typically have no checks for this error).
This is relatively benign and easy to spot if the... - fandango on core n.
[Unix/C hackers, from the Iberian
dance] In C,
a wild pointer that runs out of bounds, causing a ... - fandango on core: [UNIX/C hackers, from the Mexican dance] n.
In C, a wild pointer that runs out of bounds, causing... - smash the stack: [C programming] n. To corrupt the execution stack
by writing past the end of a local array or other data structure.
Code that smashes the stack can cause a return from... - precedence lossage: /pre's*-dens los'*j/ [C programmers] n.
Coding error in an expression due to unexpected grouping... - 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... - smash the stack n.
[C programming] To corrupt the execution
stack by writing past the end of a local array or other data
structure.
Code that smashes the stack can cause a return from...
