[Mono-dev] RFC: GC precise scanning of stacks

[Dick Porter]

Hi all

We think some of our 'leak' issues can be attributed to libgc's
false-positive identification of pointers.

Attached is a proof-of-concept patch to libgc (and a simple
demonstration program) that I hope will be the start of GC precise stack
scanning.  The code should apply easily to sgen as well.

It basically adds an extra variable to the stack which contains specific
markers and references to all the pointers that will contain GC-alloced
memory.  There is an optional failsafe mode that will fall back to the
current 'all stack is scanned' code if the markers are not seen.

This code will cover objects on unmanaged stacks but I don't know what
will be needed for managed code.  I presume the JIT can add the same
sort of marker to the stack?

So, comments?  Is this technique going to be workable?

- Dick

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