Hello all,
If we change the length of a dynamic array using the normal GC-based methods,
e.g. by setting the array's .length property, we find that the array's capacity
typically does not simply equal the length, but some greater value; there is
excess allocation.
Question: is there a comparable phenomenon for memory that is manually allocated
using malloc? That is, that if we specify a particular number of bytes to
allocate, it may be rounded up to a particular larger number?
And, if so -- is there any way of guaranteeing what that larger number will be?
The reason I ask is because, suppose that I use a dynamic array as a fixed-size
buffer, and that its minimum size must be n. So, I can do:
arr.length = n;
if (arr.capacity > arr.length)
{
arr.length = arr.capacity;
}
... and get the largest possible buffer that is at least size n, but does not
allocate any more memory than setting length = n.
I'm wondering if I can do something similar with manual memory allocation.
Thanks in advance for any comments and advice!
Best wishes,
-- Joe
