Is OS Wasting Memory? Quick Experiment Results

[waht]

I did a quick experiment. First I compiled a simple hello world program in C++ , using a gcc compiler. The source code is 100 bytes, but the executable file it 9.6 kb.

Then I dumbed the executable into hex using xxd, to check up on the 0s and 1s. It turns out there is a huge gap, almost a kilobyte long of zeros.

I'm wondering if this is some sort of delay, or just unused bits?

 

[Mark44]

I'm guessing that the section with 0s is the data segment of your program, and that unless you specify otherwise, it will allocate a 1K block for it. I don't have any experience with gcc, so don't know if you can configure it to use less memory. Check the docs for gcc.

 

[quicknote]

As a scientist, it is important to approach any experiment with a critical and analytical mindset. While your experiment may have yielded some interesting results, it is important to consider other factors before making any conclusions about whether or not the operating system (OS) is wasting memory.

Firstly, it is important to note that a simple "hello world" program may not be the best representation of memory usage in a more complex program. It is possible that the OS allocates more memory for larger programs, and thus the gap of zeros may not be as significant in a larger executable.

Additionally, the use of a gcc compiler and xxd program may also introduce their own biases and potential sources of error. It is important to replicate the experiment with different compilers and methods to ensure the results are consistent.

Furthermore, it is important to consider the purpose of the zeros in the executable file. They could potentially serve a purpose in the functioning of the program or the OS itself. Without a deeper understanding of the code and the OS, it would be premature to conclude that they are simply unused bits.

In conclusion, while your quick experiment may have raised some interesting questions, it is important to conduct further research and analysis before making any definitive statements about whether or not the OS is wasting memory. It is also important to consider the limitations and potential sources of error in your experiment.