Tracing malloc (The GNU C Library)

#### 3.2.4.1 How to install the tracing functionality ¶

Function: `void` mtrace `(void)` ¶

  Preliminary: | MT-Unsafe env race:mtrace init | AS-Unsafe init heap corrupt lock | AC-Unsafe init corrupt lock fd mem | See POSIX Safety Concepts.

  The `mtrace` function provides a way to trace memory allocation events in the program that calls it. It is disabled by default in the library and can be enabled by preloading the debugging library `libc_malloc_debug` using the `LD_PRELOAD` environment variable.

  When the `mtrace` function is called it looks for an environment variable named `MALLOC_TRACE`. This variable is supposed to contain a valid file name. The user must have write access. If the file already exists it is truncated. If the environment variable is not set or it does not name a valid file which can be opened for writing nothing is done. The behavior of `malloc` etc. is not changed. For obvious reasons this also happens if the application is installed with the SUID or SGID bit set.

  If the named file is successfully opened, `mtrace` installs special handlers for the functions `malloc`, `realloc`, and `free`. From then on, all uses of these functions are traced and protocolled into the file. There is now of course a speed penalty for all calls to the traced functions so tracing should not be enabled during normal use.

  This function is a GNU extension and generally not available on other systems. The prototype can be found in `mcheck.h`.

Function: `void` muntrace `(void)` ¶

  Preliminary: | MT-Unsafe race:mtrace locale | AS-Unsafe corrupt heap | AC-Unsafe corrupt mem lock fd | See POSIX Safety Concepts.

  The `muntrace` function can be called after `mtrace` was used to enable tracing the `malloc` calls. If no (successful) call of `mtrace` was made `muntrace` does nothing.

  Otherwise it deinstalls the handlers for `malloc`, `realloc`, and `free` and then closes the protocol file. No calls are protocolled anymore and the program runs again at full speed.

  This function is a GNU extension and generally not available on other systems. The prototype can be found in `mcheck.h`.