some general advice sought on the use of gctorture()

Dear all

I have bumped into the dreaded 'segfault' error type when running some
C++ code using .Call().

I have already undertaken several attempts to debug the C++ code with
gdb(), but until now I have been unable to pinpoint the origin of the
problem. There are two elements that I think are puzzling (a) this
.Call() has worked fine for about three years, for a variety of data
(b)  the actual crash occurs at random points during the execution of
the function (well, random from a human eye's point of view).

From what I understand in the "R extensions" manual, the actual

problem may have been around for a while before the actual call to the
C++ code. As recommended in the manual, I am now using  gctorture() to
try to pinpoint the origins of the problem. I can, alas, only confirm
that gctorture() has an enormous impact on execution time, even for
operations that are normally executed within the blink of an eye. From
what I have seen until now, executing all the R code before the crash
with gctorture(TRUE) could take months.

I suppose then that the best way to proceed would be to proceed
backward from the point where the crash occurs when gctorture(FALSE).

I have tried to find some concrete examples of good practices in the
use of gctorture() to identify memory problems in R, but most of what I
have found on the web is simply a copy of the help page. Does anybody
know more concrete and elaborated examples that could give an
indication on how to best proceed further?





Laurent Franckx, PhD
Senior researcher sustainable mobility
VITO NV | Boeretang 200 | 2400 Mol
Tel. ++ 32 14 33 58 22| mob. +32 479 25 59 07 | Skype: laurent.franckx
| laurent.franckx at vito.be | Twitter @LaurentFranckx




VITO Disclaimer: http://www.vito.be/e-maildisclaimer