Debugging C/C++ Memory Issues on macOS

Introduction to built-in malloc debugging library

Source code.

Usage of malloc debugging to detect heap overflows & double-free/delete.

Introduction to the Guard Malloc provided through libgmalloc library.

Using libgmalloc to detect buffer overflows and use after free errors.

Source code

Explanation of how libgmalloc works internally.

How libgmalloc detects buffer underflows. Explanation of the header that is used to store magic number and other information.

Enabling libgmalloc through command line.

Introduction to leaks command line tool.

Source code

Using MallocStackLogging with leaks tool for generating stack traces during leaks.

Using leaks tool to detect leaks in running processes.

Source code

Explanation of the concept of root leak

Explanation of the concept of root cycle. Understanding leaks caused due to cyclic dependencies.

Source code

Customizing leaks command through command line options.

Generating memory graph in Xcode for detecting leaks.

Understanding root cycles & chained pointers in memory graph.

Generating memory graph with leaks command. Using generated memory graphs to suppress already detected leaks.

Introduction to Xcode debug navigation window and the information it presents during debugging.

Source code

Using debug navigator to detect usage of various resources by the application.

Using debug navigator to understand allocation & deallocation patterns in the application.

Introduction to Xcode instruments.

Using Allocations template to view allocations in a running process.

Source code

Detecting leaks through Allocations template.

Explanation of memory snapshots.

Using the "Mark Generation" feature to take memory snapshots in the Allocations instrument.

Using memory snapshots to detect leaks.

Introduction to the leaks template of Instruments.

Using Leaks instrument to detect leaks.

Mixing leaked & non-leaked allocations.