375977 - Incorrect amount of memory usage shown in process displayers (which show the memory usage).

Status: RESOLVED INVALID

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[rapidfire]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.3) Gecko/20070309 Firefox/2.0.0.3
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.3) Gecko/20070309 Firefox/2.0.0.3

I have read (maybe on an official mozilla faq, the one about memory leaks I think) that the memory displayed in programs such as task manager do not show the true amount of memory being used by firefox. If this is the case it's important that it at least be clarified by the firefox program.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open firefox and open a bunch of sites.

2. Open task manager and look at the increasing amount of memory firefox is supposedly using up.

Actual Results:  
Firefox appears in programs like task manager to be using an increasing amount of memory when supposedly it isn't but is instead being reported incorrectly by the Windows OS.

Expected Results:  
To see the correct amount of memory ussage, at least on the firefox gui.

There should be an extension or integrated program built into firefox which shows the true amount of memory it is using for stability purposes at least (no one wants to freeze their computer except for test reasons.) I recommend using the status bar on the bottom, in between where the url and the firefox icon is shown on the bottom left. I also recommend reserving the length for 7 or 8 digit spaces by default so it isn't lengthening and shortening in a distracting manner to accommodate the number length shown.

Comment 1

[Dave Townsend [:mossop]]

I dont believe that Mozilla has an official faq about memory leaks so can you please point to where this information has come from.

As far as I'm concerned, if an external tool is not displaying the amount of memory in use by Firefox then its likely a bug in the external tool, not Firefox.

I think a readout of memory in use by firefox is definite extension fodder and not for the main program.

Comment 2

[rapidfire]

ok

Comment 3

[Jo Hermans]

In Task Manager, it's better to use the column 'VM Size' instead of 'Mem
Usage', because it won't be shrink when you minimize an application. But it
comes back when you un-minimize the app.

But Gecko apps don't show this behavior (to avoid a slowdown when un-minimizing
or something), which is often the cause of mistakes : "Look: IE uses only
1.844K of memory while FF uses 60MB." Aaargh...