Re: [Boost-users] Serialization allocator

From: Stuart Reynolds (boost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-06-23 13:34:55

The allocator the serialize library seems to call is global new. (At
least that's what happens when I compiled the samples.) The first
three come from:
   boost::archive::basic_text_oprimitive<std::ostream>::basic_text_oprimitive$base
()
   std::locale::locale<boost::archive::codecvt_null<char> >
   std::locale::_Impl::_Impl

For our own interrnal uses of STL we provide our own STL allocators,
which resolve to malloc/free callback functions provided to our
library through its public interface. However, without recompiling the
source to the serialization library, I don't think I can make the
library use these allocators. (Right?)

Generally speaking, because I work on embedded systems, we need to
monitor and control memory usage very carefully. We can't have any
dependencies on libraries that make naked calls to malloc/free or
global new/delete since on many of the platforms we target the OS does
not provide a heap, or must use a particular one of manys available
heaps each of which may reference physically different memory.

If all allocations went to boost::archive::details::heap_allocator<>,
and this in turn called out to malloc/free style callbacks provided in
the public interface, then that would solve my problems. More
generally, if the whole of boost could make its allocations via
externally provided allocators, it would be much more useful to me.

So, for now it looks like I need to modify the the serialization
library for boost and incorporate it into my build system. (Right?)

Cheers,
- Stu

On Sat, Jun 21, 2008 at 5:37 PM, Robert Ramey <ramey_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> which allocator are we talking about?
>
> If one use STL containers, the allocators associated with the container type
> are used so if specify particular allocators for your own collections,
> those allocators will be used when data is recovered and rebuilt.
>
> The library uses a couple of STL containers for tracking objects
> and class ids.  The currently would not be accessible.  No one
> has ever asked about this before.  We are only now starting
> to profile serialization performance tests so we will know for the
> first time ever if there is anything to be gained in this area.  Its
> possible that a future version might permit one to specify an
> allocator when the archive is instantiated - but for now, usage
> of the standard allocator is built in.
>
> Robert Ramey
>
> Stuart Reynolds wrote:
>> I'm interested in using Boost's serialization for a middleware library
>> that receives allocators from the application that uses it.
>> Is it possible to specify which allocators for the serialization
>> library to uses?
>>
>> I can't override global new/delete -- the application reserves the
>> right to do this.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> - Stuart
>
>
>
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