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dumb question (initialize-release)

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Vincent Lesbros-2

dumb question (initialize-release)

Hi,

this perhaps a stupid question, but, very basic :

When I define a class, subclass of Object,
define an initialize method,
redefine the new message to call the initialize,

and
define a release method.

If I create an instance, it is initialized, well.
but if I cut all the links to this instance and I call the garbage collector,
I thought that the "release" method will be called.
But, the release method is not called.

Is this normal ?
When the release message is sent ?

CF. Code in attachement.

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TestObject.st (1K) Download Attachment

davidbuck

Re: dumb question (initialize-release)

The "release" method isn't called on garbage collection. It's intended to be called manually by your application when an object is no longer needed in order to free the resources that object has acquired. If you're writing GUI code, release may be called by the windowing code before the window closes.

If you want special code to run when an object if an object is garbage collected, you need to look into finalization. For that, you need WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries. Check the application programmers guide for details.

David Buck

Vincent Lesbros wrote:

Hi,

this perhaps a stupid question, but, very basic :

When I define a class, subclass of Object,
define an initialize method,
redefine the new message to call the initialize,

and
define a release method.

If I create an instance, it is initialized, well.
but if I cut all the links to this instance and I call the garbage collector,
I thought that the "release" method will be called.
But, the release method is not called.

Is this normal ?
When the release message is sent ?

CF. Code in attachement.


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Maarten Mostert-2

Re: dumb question (initialize-release)

Good point

But who ever understood something from WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries from the documentation?

@+Maarten

Le 28 avr. 2013 à 17:43, David Buck <[hidden email]> a écrit :

The "release" method isn't called on garbage collection. It's intended to be called manually by your application when an object is no longer needed in order to free the resources that object has acquired. If you're writing GUI code, release may be called by the windowing code before the window closes.

If you want special code to run when an object if an object is garbage collected, you need to look into finalization. For that, you need WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries. Check the application programmers guide for details.

David Buck

Vincent Lesbros wrote:
Hi,

this perhaps a stupid question, but, very basic :

When I define a class, subclass of Object,
define an initialize method,
redefine the new message to call the initialize,

and
define a release method.

If I create an instance, it is initialized, well.
but if I cut all the links to this instance and I call the garbage collector,
I thought that the "release" method will be called.
But, the release method is not called.

Is this normal ?
When the release message is sent ?

CF. Code in attachement.
  
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Mark Roberts

Re: dumb question (initialize-release)

Two small points:

1) "...and I call the garbage collector...". As a rule, garbage collection is automatic. In most cases, your application does not need to invoke it. As for #release, David has given the short and sweet answer. You can find a longer discussion here: http://forum.world.st/Method-release-Intention-and-Sender-td2067834.html

2) "But who ever understood something from WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries from the documentation?" There is a ten-page discussion of weak references in the Application Developer's Guide (chapter 19). If you find it wanting, and if you have clear and focused suggestions for improving it, we would be happy to hear them.

Regards,

M. Roberts
Cincom Systems, Inc.

On 4/29/2013 6:01 AM, Maarten Mostert wrote:

Good point
But who ever understood something from WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries from the documentation?
@+Maarten
Le 28 avr. 2013 à 17:43, David Buck <[hidden email]> a écrit :
The "release" method isn't called on garbage collection. It's intended to be called manually by your application when an object is no longer needed in order to free the resources that object has acquired. If you're writing GUI code, release may be called by the windowing code before the window closes.

If you want special code to run when an object if an object is garbage collected, you need to look into finalization. For that, you need WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries. Check the application programmers guide for details.

David Buck

Vincent Lesbros wrote:
Hi,

this perhaps a stupid question, but, very basic :

When I define a class, subclass of Object,
define an initialize method,
redefine the new message to call the initialize,

and
define a release method.

If I create an instance, it is initialized, well.
but if I cut all the links to this instance and I call the garbage collector,
I thought that the "release" method will be called.
But, the release method is not called.

Is this normal ?
When the release message is sent ?

CF. Code in attachement.
  
_______________________________________________
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[hidden email]
http://lists.cs.uiuc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vwnc
  
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Boris Popov, DeepCove Labs (SNN)

Re: dumb question (initialize-release)

In reply to this post by Maarten Mostert-2

There’s a handy package in public repository called Weaklings (and WeaklingsTests) just for this type of thing,

testMourn

| before strong offspring |

before := Core.Object.WeaklingsRegistry size.

strong := String withAll: 'Hello'.

strong mourn: [:dying | offspring := dying copy].

self assert: offspring isNil.

strong := 'World'.

ObjectMemory globalGarbageCollect.

self assert: before = Core.Object.WeaklingsRegistry size.

self assert: offspring = 'Hello'.

-Boris

From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mark D. Roberts
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 4:55 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [vwnc] dumb question (initialize-release)

Good point
But who ever understood something from WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries from the documentation?
@+Maarten
Le 28 avr. 2013 à 17:43, David Buck <[hidden email]> a écrit :
The "release" method isn't called on garbage collection. It's intended to be called manually by your application when an object is no longer needed in order to free the resources that object has acquired. If you're writing GUI code, release may be called by the windowing code before the window closes.

If you want special code to run when an object if an object is garbage collected, you need to look into finalization. For that, you need WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries. Check the application programmers guide for details.

David Buck

Vincent Lesbros wrote:
Hi,
 
this perhaps a stupid question, but, very basic :
 
When I define a class, subclass of Object,
define an initialize method,
redefine the new message to call the initialize,
 
and
define a release method.
 
If I create an instance, it is initialized, well.
but if I cut all the links to this instance and I call the garbage collector,
I thought that the "release" method will be called.
But, the release method is not called.
 
Is this normal ?
When the release message is sent ?
 
CF. Code in attachement.
  
 
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vwnc mailing list
[hidden email]
http://lists.cs.uiuc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vwnc
  
 
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Maarten Mostert

Re: dumb question (initialize-release)

In reply to this post by Mark Roberts

Welll yes I am still far away from this level of abstraction, but thanks for the extra info, ..

I am printing High resoltion PDF files for which I don't manage to release, so sooner or later I'll have to bite this ...

@+Maarten,

> "Mark D. Roberts" <[hidden email]> |

Good point
But who ever understood something from WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries from the documentation?
@+Maarten

Le 28 avr. 2013 à 17:43, David Buck <[hidden email]> a écrit :

The "release" method isn't called on garbage collection. It's intended to be called manually by your application when an object is no longer needed in order to free the resources that object has acquired. If you're writing GUI code, release may be called by the windowing code before the window closes.

If you want special code to run when an object if an object is garbage collected, you need to look into finalization. For that, you need WeakArrays or WeakDictionaries. Check the application programmers guide for details.

David Buck

Vincent Lesbros wrote:

Hi, this perhaps a stupid question, but, very basic : When I define a class, subclass of Object, define an initialize method, redefine the new message to call the initialize, and define a release method. If I create an instance, it is initialized, well. but if I cut all the links to this instance and I call the garbage collector, I thought that the "release" method will be called. But, the release method is not called. Is this normal ? When the release message is sent ? CF. Code in attachement.
_______________________________________________ vwnc mailing list [hidden email] http://lists.cs.uiuc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vwnc
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