An error in a program's dynamic-store allocation logic that causes it
to fail to reclaim discarded memory, leading to eventual collapse due
to memory exhaustion. Also (esp. at CMU) called {core leak}. These
problems were severe on older machines with small, fixed-size address
spaces, and special "leak detection" tools were commonly written to
root them out. With the advent of virtual memory, it is unfortunately
easier to be sloppy about wasting a bit of memory (although when you
run out of memory on a VM machine, it means you've got a real leak!).
See {aliasing bug}, {fandango on core}, {smash the stack},
{precedence lossage}, {overrun screw}, {leaky heap}, {leak}.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {aliasing bug}{arena}{core leak}{fandango on core}{leak}{leaky heap}{memory smash}{overrun screw}{precedence lossage}{smash the stack}]