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Non-GUI Application with small memory consumption...

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  • S Shy Agam

    Hello experts, I have the need to create a small, non-GUI application, which would consume no more than 300k~320k of memory... My code should also have the ability to use Win32 API. When I tried a "Win32 Application" project, even with no more than an empty WinMain() function, it consumes about 1000k of RAM... BTW, I use windows Task Manager to read memory consumption... What kind of project should I create? Any guidelines? I know C++ as a language, but have never actually written anything with it... Thanks in advance, Shy.

    CPalliniC Offline
    CPalliniC Offline
    CPallini
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    Shy Agam wrote:

    have the need to create a small, non-GUI application, which would consume no more than 300k~320k of memory...

    Why?. (i.e. do you really need such a strict contraint?) :)

    If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
    This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke

    In testa che avete, signor di Ceprano?

    S 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • CPalliniC CPallini

      Shy Agam wrote:

      have the need to create a small, non-GUI application, which would consume no more than 300k~320k of memory...

      Why?. (i.e. do you really need such a strict contraint?) :)

      If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
      This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke

      S Offline
      S Offline
      Shy Agam
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      I was asked to write the app... It's no me who decide...

      CPalliniC 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • S Shy Agam

        Hello experts, I have the need to create a small, non-GUI application, which would consume no more than 300k~320k of memory... My code should also have the ability to use Win32 API. When I tried a "Win32 Application" project, even with no more than an empty WinMain() function, it consumes about 1000k of RAM... BTW, I use windows Task Manager to read memory consumption... What kind of project should I create? Any guidelines? I know C++ as a language, but have never actually written anything with it... Thanks in advance, Shy.

        R Offline
        R Offline
        rp_suman
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        Hi, How about console application? Best Regards, Suman

        S 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • R rp_suman

          Hi, How about console application? Best Regards, Suman

          S Offline
          S Offline
          Shy Agam
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          I've created an empty console project, added a new .cpp file, and written the following code:

          #include <windows.h>
          
          void main()
          {
              Sleep(10000);
          }
          

          This simple code uses 600k of RAM... Furthermore, it opens a console window, but I suppose it's possible to hide it...

          R 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • S Shy Agam

            Hello experts, I have the need to create a small, non-GUI application, which would consume no more than 300k~320k of memory... My code should also have the ability to use Win32 API. When I tried a "Win32 Application" project, even with no more than an empty WinMain() function, it consumes about 1000k of RAM... BTW, I use windows Task Manager to read memory consumption... What kind of project should I create? Any guidelines? I know C++ as a language, but have never actually written anything with it... Thanks in advance, Shy.

            M Offline
            M Offline
            Moak
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            Shy Agam wrote:

            even with no more than an empty WinMain() function, it consumes about 1000k of RAM

            Are you sure, how did you measure this?

            My Webchat

            S 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • M Moak

              Shy Agam wrote:

              even with no more than an empty WinMain() function, it consumes about 1000k of RAM

              Are you sure, how did you measure this?

              My Webchat

              S Offline
              S Offline
              Shy Agam
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              Using the "Processes" tab in the Task Manager...

              M R 2 Replies Last reply
              0
              • S Shy Agam

                I've created an empty console project, added a new .cpp file, and written the following code:

                #include <windows.h>
                
                void main()
                {
                    Sleep(10000);
                }
                

                This simple code uses 600k of RAM... Furthermore, it opens a console window, but I suppose it's possible to hide it...

                R Offline
                R Offline
                rp_suman
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                In generated code, check which part displays console. Is "windows.h" the only header included or something else? Try not including header except which needed for Win32 API. Best Regards, Suman

                S 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • R rp_suman

                  In generated code, check which part displays console. Is "windows.h" the only header included or something else? Try not including header except which needed for Win32 API. Best Regards, Suman

                  S Offline
                  S Offline
                  Shy Agam
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  rp_suman wrote:

                  In generated code, check which part displays console.

                  What do you mean by "In generated code"? Nothing was auto-generated...

                  rp_suman wrote:

                  Is "windows.h" the only header included or something else?

                  Yes, it's the only header included. However, when I included it and linked the project, basetsd.h was automatically added to the project as an external dependency.

                  R 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • S Shy Agam

                    Using the "Processes" tab in the Task Manager...

                    M Offline
                    M Offline
                    Moak
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    If I am not wrong the "Mem Usage" column of the task manager includes shared memory from loaded DLLs.

                    My Webchat

                    S 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • S Shy Agam

                      rp_suman wrote:

                      In generated code, check which part displays console.

                      What do you mean by "In generated code"? Nothing was auto-generated...

                      rp_suman wrote:

                      Is "windows.h" the only header included or something else?

                      Yes, it's the only header included. However, when I included it and linked the project, basetsd.h was automatically added to the project as an external dependency.

                      R Offline
                      R Offline
                      rp_suman
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      Which version of vc++ you are trying? I am not sure, but there may be difference in memory between different versions of vc++(6.0, 7.0 and 8.0).

                      S 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • M Moak

                        If I am not wrong the "Mem Usage" column of the task manager includes shared memory from loaded DLLs.

                        My Webchat

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        Shy Agam
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        My goal is to make the Mem Usage column display 320k or less...

                        M 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • R rp_suman

                          Which version of vc++ you are trying? I am not sure, but there may be difference in memory between different versions of vc++(6.0, 7.0 and 8.0).

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          Shy Agam
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          6.0

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • S Shy Agam

                            Using the "Processes" tab in the Task Manager...

                            R Offline
                            R Offline
                            rp_suman
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            Moak could be right, task manager may show not only the program size but linked DLLs etc.. You make sure, the memory size means runtime memory shown by task manager or just the exe file size. Whats the exe file size? Best Regards, Suman btw, my vc 2005 trial version has been expired, so I could not try, just telling ideas

                            S 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • S Shy Agam

                              My goal is to make the Mem Usage column display 320k or less...

                              M Offline
                              M Offline
                              Moak
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              Shy Agam wrote:

                              My goal is to make the Mem Usage column display 320k or less...

                              Even though that is not the memory that the application will consume? Who is repsonsible for those requirements, would he consider using a root kit that hides the presence of the process from the task manager? Just kidding... you are misinterpreting the data returned from the task manager. What you see there is something like the size of the virtual address space in use which includes system DLLs... but no empty WinMain() application will use up 320K free system memory, how could an empty program waste multiple KB? See How big is my program[^]. Hope it helps :) /M

                              My Webchat

                              modified on Saturday, March 22, 2008 10:53 AM

                              S 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • M Moak

                                Shy Agam wrote:

                                My goal is to make the Mem Usage column display 320k or less...

                                Even though that is not the memory that the application will consume? Who is repsonsible for those requirements, would he consider using a root kit that hides the presence of the process from the task manager? Just kidding... you are misinterpreting the data returned from the task manager. What you see there is something like the size of the virtual address space in use which includes system DLLs... but no empty WinMain() application will use up 320K free system memory, how could an empty program waste multiple KB? See How big is my program[^]. Hope it helps :) /M

                                My Webchat

                                modified on Saturday, March 22, 2008 10:53 AM

                                S Offline
                                S Offline
                                Shy Agam
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                Moak wrote:

                                Who is repsonsible for those requirements, would he consider using a root kit that hides the presence of the process from the task manager? Just kidding...

                                Hehe... That was funny... :) There's an existing app which consumes about 300k. It's basically the same as the one I'm supposed to write, but it lacks some basic must-have features/abilities, and needs some improvements... The goal is to keep this kind of memory usage, but improve the app, in order not to "pay a large price" for the improvements...

                                M 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • S Shy Agam

                                  I was asked to write the app... It's no me who decide...

                                  CPalliniC Offline
                                  CPalliniC Offline
                                  CPallini
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  Try (I didn't make a test) to change the STACK linker option [^] that defaults to 1 MB. :)

                                  If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
                                  This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke

                                  In testa che avete, signor di Ceprano?

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • S Shy Agam

                                    Moak wrote:

                                    Who is repsonsible for those requirements, would he consider using a root kit that hides the presence of the process from the task manager? Just kidding...

                                    Hehe... That was funny... :) There's an existing app which consumes about 300k. It's basically the same as the one I'm supposed to write, but it lacks some basic must-have features/abilities, and needs some improvements... The goal is to keep this kind of memory usage, but improve the app, in order not to "pay a large price" for the improvements...

                                    M Offline
                                    M Offline
                                    Moak
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    Shy Agam, I modified my last answer with a link to an article here on CP. Please have a look. /M

                                    My Webchat

                                    S 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • R rp_suman

                                      Moak could be right, task manager may show not only the program size but linked DLLs etc.. You make sure, the memory size means runtime memory shown by task manager or just the exe file size. Whats the exe file size? Best Regards, Suman btw, my vc 2005 trial version has been expired, so I could not try, just telling ideas

                                      S Offline
                                      S Offline
                                      Shy Agam
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #19

                                      It doesn't matter... I was put on certain constraints... I have to enforce them... Maybe I can remove dependencies from my app...(?) According to previous posts, it should affact the MemUsage column...

                                      R D 2 Replies Last reply
                                      0
                                      • M Moak

                                        Shy Agam, I modified my last answer with a link to an article here on CP. Please have a look. /M

                                        My Webchat

                                        S Offline
                                        S Offline
                                        Shy Agam
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        I read the article... Thanks...

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • S Shy Agam

                                          It doesn't matter... I was put on certain constraints... I have to enforce them... Maybe I can remove dependencies from my app...(?) According to previous posts, it should affact the MemUsage column...

                                          R Offline
                                          R Offline
                                          rp_suman
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #21

                                          Hi, All the best to solve the problem!! Please let me know when you find solution Best Regards, Suman

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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