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Understanding Memory Usage On Linux

Posted by Hemos on from the and-beyond-Linux dept.

Percy_Blakeney writes "Have you ever wondered why a simple text editor on Linux can use dozens of megabytes of memory? A recent blog posting explains how the output of the ps tool is misleading and how you can get a better idea of how much memory a process really uses."

7 of 248 comments (clear)

  1. A 'simple' editor ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    How can they diminish EMACS like that ?

    1. Re:A 'simple' editor ? by aurb · · Score: 5, Funny

      They said 'text editor', not 'operating system'.

    2. Re:A 'simple' editor ? by the_greywolf · · Score: 2, Funny

      speaking of which... has anyone ported a text editor to it yet? it would seem EMACS is a good OS, but with no VI, i just can't figure out how it's useful...

      --
      grey wolf
      LET FORTRAN DIE!
  2. Emacs by Touisteur · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you wanna see a real OS with memory hogs, run Emacs...

  3. Re:Extra, extra, read all about it by mrjb · · Score: 4, Funny

    His next story will cover that.

    --
    Visit http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/growingbettersoftware to download your free copy of the book
  4. Try using large chunks of Sys V shared memory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    And then have a lot of processes attach to those chunks of shared memory.

    It's kind fun to see your 4 gig machine have processes using 100+ gigs of RAM on it because there are 50 processes attached to a 2 gig chunk of Sys V shared memory.

    And it's even more fun when a noob admin notices it and gets management all spun up over "the huge memory leak" the overexcitable twit found in your apps. :-P

  5. Sure by arvindn · · Score: 2, Funny
    "Have you ever wondered why a simple text editor on Linux can use dozens of megabytes of memory? "

    Of course. EMACS - eight megabytes and constantly swapping.