Malloc

Malloc Lab #

👋️ Note: Updated to Y86-64 for CS:APP3e. Students are given a small default Y86-64 array copying function and a working pipelined Y86-64 processor design that runs the copy function in some nominal number of clock cycles per array element (CPE). The students attempt to minimize the CPE by modifying both the function and the processor design. This gives the students a deep appreciation for the interactions between hardware and software.

Note: The lab materials include the master source distribution of the Y86-64 processor simulators and the Y86-64 Guide to Simulators. (I unzipped it into tar/)

Contents #

  • Files downloaded from CS:APP website as archlab-handout.tar, and listed below in the original README contents

Lab Assignment Write-Up #

csapp.cs.cmu.edu/3e/malloclab.pdf.

This write-up is pretty helpful for even those doing self-study. Read through it to learn how to approach this lab’s problem.

Original README.md #

This section is copied from csapp.cs.cmu.edu/3e/README-archlab. It was modified only to conform to standard Markdown formatting.

It is not particularly useful for people doing self-study, but is reproduced here anyway.

#####################################################################
# CS:APP Malloc Lab
# Directions to Instructors
#
# Copyright (c) 2002, R. Bryant and D. O'Hallaron, All rights reserved.
# May not be used, modified, or copied without permission.
#
######################################################################

This directory contains the files that you will need to run the CS:APP malloc lab, which develops a student’s understanding of pointers, system-level programming, and memory managment.

1. Overview #

In this lab, students write their own storage allocator, in particular implementations of the malloc, free, and realloc functions. A trace-driven driver (mdriver) evaluates the quality of the student’s implementation in terms of space utilization and throughput.

2. Files #

  • Makefile Makefile that builds the Lab
  • README This file
  • grade/ Autograding scripts
  • malloclab-handout/ The files handed out to the students
  • src/ The driver sources
  • traces/ The malloc/free/realloc trace files used by the driver
  • writeup/ The malloc lab writeup

3. Building the Lab #

Step 1: Configure the driver in src/ for your site. See src/README for detailed information on the driver.

Step 2: Modify the Latex writeup in writeup/ to reflect the handout and handin directions for your site. If you don’t use Latex, use your favorite document preparation system to prepare Postcript and PDF versions of the writeup in malloclab.ps and malloclab.pdf.

Step 3: Modify the LABNAME and DEST variables in ./Makefile for your site.

Step 4: Type “make” to build the $(LABNAME)-handout.tar file.

Step 5: Type “make dist” to copy the $(LABNAME)-handout.tar file and the writeup to the distribution directory where the students will retrieve the lab.

4. Grading the Lab #

There are autograding scripts for this lab. See grade/README for details.