How to use operator new to count number of times of dynamic memory allocation

Question

Given the following code:

int i;
...
ostingstream os;
os<<i;
string s=os.str();

I want to count the number of times of dynamic memory allocation when using ostringstream this way. How can I do that? Maybe through operator new?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Yes, and here is how you could do it:

#include <new>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <vector>
#include <sstream>

int number_of_allocs = 0;

void* operator new(std::size_t size) throw(std::bad_alloc) {
  ++number_of_allocs;
  void *p = malloc(size);
  if(!p) throw std::bad_alloc();
  return p;
}

void* operator new  [](std::size_t size) throw(std::bad_alloc) {
  ++number_of_allocs;
  void *p = malloc(size);
  if(!p) throw std::bad_alloc();
  return p;
}

void* operator new  [](std::size_t size, const std::nothrow_t&) throw() {
  ++number_of_allocs;
  return malloc(size);
}
void* operator new   (std::size_t size, const std::nothrow_t&) throw() {
  ++number_of_allocs;
  return malloc(size);
}


void operator delete(void* ptr) throw() { free(ptr); }
void operator delete (void* ptr, const std::nothrow_t&) throw() { free(ptr); }
void operator delete[](void* ptr) throw() { free(ptr); }
void operator delete[](void* ptr, const std::nothrow_t&) throw() { free(ptr); }

int main () {
  int start(number_of_allocs);

  // Your test code goes here:
  int i(7);
  std::ostringstream os;
  os<<i;
  std::string s=os.str();
  // End of your test code

  int end(number_of_allocs);

  std::cout << "Number of Allocs: " << end-start << "\n";
}

In my environment (Ubuntu 10.4.3, g++), the answer is "2".

---

EDIT: Quoting MSDN

The global operator new function is called when the new operator is used to allocate objects of built-in types, objects of class type that do not contain user-defined operator new functions, and arrays of any type. When the new operator is used to allocate objects of a class type where an operator new is defined, that class's operator new is called.

So every new-expression will invoke the global operator new, unless there is a class operator new. For the classes you listed, I believe that there is no class-level operator new.

Answer 2

If you want to count the dynamically allocated objects, You should replace the new operator for your class by overloading it and add the counting logic in there.

Good Read:
How should I write ISO C++ Standard conformant custom new and delete operators?

Answer 3

If you are using Linux (glibc), you can use a malloc hook to log all dynamic memory allocation.