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(libc.info)Tracing malloc

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How to install the tracing functionality
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 - Function: void mtrace (void)
     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' (Note:
     Hooks for Malloc).  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)
     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'.