"can't allocate region" malloc error in Simulator, any ideas why?

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
1

I occasionally get this error in the Corona Simulator (using Daily Build 772, not the most official build).

Corona Simulator(35944,0xad2802c0) malloc: mmap(size=16777216) failed (error code=12)
 error: can’t allocate region
*** set a breakpoint in malloc_error_break to debug

Any clue what this is about? I don’t get this error consistently. In fact, it occurs rarely. I think it popped up in previous builds too, not just #772. Sometimes a simple “refresh” (Command-R) makes the error vanish. When that doesn’t work, I usually just quit and restart the Simulator, and everything is back to normal.

So is this error reason for concern? My app seems to work fine otherwise, both in the Simulator and testing on devices. I’m just curious what this error might mean.

Sincerely,
Brent Sorrentino
Ignis Design [import]uid: 9747 topic_id: 24009 reply_id: 324009[/import]

2

This could be a lot of different things.

  • You are out of free RAM (try closing some programs)
  • A leak in the Corona simulator
  • Bad RAM
  • Apple bug or leak

If you can provide a reproducible test case, please file a bug with us.

[import]uid: 7563 topic_id: 24009 reply_id: 96783[/import]

3

Thanks for the quick response!
I can’t really produce a test case for this because it happens (seemingly) for no reason, at random times. I have 8 GB of RAM and don’t run an excessive amount of applications, so it’s probably not my computer. Usually a restart of the Simulator fixes the problem, so it’s probably an isolated leak in the Simulator or an Apple bug/leak.

Either way, it doesn’t happen often, and it doesn’t seem to affect my app in any way. So, no worries, I was mostly curious about it. :slight_smile:

Sincerely,
Brent Sorrentino
[import]uid: 9747 topic_id: 24009 reply_id: 96905[/import]