607651 - (safegc-tracker) "Safe GC" Tracker Bug

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Tamarin Graveyard :: Garbage Collection (mmGC), defect)

Description

[Dan Smith]

This bug tracks the dependencies for the Safe GC project.  


The Safe GC project is a Flash Runtime initiative that will not be implemented in Tamarin, where we value flexible memory management more than safety, but it will be supported by Tamarin's GC.

Project Overview Blurb:

The garbage collector is used both for the virtual machines and the C++ code in Flash Player and AIR. In the C++ code, it is primarily used to manage shared resources, but is also occasionally used for general resource management.

Using GC managed memory and GC pointers from C++ is very complex. It is easy to write code that compiles and seems to run properly, but which will fail due to timing issues in the field. It is an ongoing source of bugs.

We need to invest time in bullet proofing the GC so it can be used from C++ code by everyone on the team. At the very least, dangerous code should fail to compile. The GC is wide ranging and sensitive, but currently much too fragile.

For additional documentation on how the GC currently works, please refer to the MDC documentation 


Specific issues being addressed by the Safe GC project:


1. Raw pointer syntax makes it difficult to know when you're working with managed memory.
2. Even when you know you're working with GC memory, it's possible to make a mistake and use the wrong declaration syntax.

Comment 1

[Sylvestre Ledru [:Sylvestre]]

No assignee, updating the status.

Comment 2

[Sylvestre Ledru [:Sylvestre]]

No assignee, updating the status.

Comment 3

[Sylvestre Ledru [:Sylvestre]]

No assignee, updating the status.

Comment 4

[Sylvestre Ledru [:Sylvestre]]

No assignee, updating the status.

Comment 5

[Sylvestre Ledru [:Sylvestre]]

Tamarin isn't maintained anymore. WONTFIX remaining bugs.