GNU bug report logs - #405
Emacs 22.2.1 in X behaves improperly when run with low memory limits

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Message #5 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Kwang Ketcham <kketcham <at> cs.hmc.edu>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Emacs 22.2.1 in X behaves improperly when run with low memory limits
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:12:09 -0700 (PDT)

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

When run in an X window session and with low process memory limits, Emacs 
fails to open and/or syntax highlight some files properly.  To reproduce, 
run:

  bash --noprofile --norc
  ulimit -d 10240
  emacs
    Open treeset-private.hpp [attached]

If things are still going smoothly, try turning on font-lock-mode.  At 
this point, I get the error 'Invalid regexp: "Regular expression too 
big"'.  If the ulimit is set to 8MB instead of 10MB, Emacs encounters this 
error on startup while attempting to load the splash screen.  I have 
encountered similar errors while loading or highlighting this file with 
memory limits up to at least 12MB, if not larger.  Sometimes the file will 
fail to load; sometimes it will load but be improperly highlighted; other 
times it will load but nothing will be highlighted and the modified flag 
will be set.  Behavior is inconsistent; sometimes, simply reissuing the 
open file command or toggling font-lock-mode will fix things.  If you have 
further questions about the bug, contact me at kketcham <at> cs.hmc.edu.  Thank 
you.

Kwang Ketcham
Harvey Mudd College
CS Department Staff

[treeset-private.hpp (text/x-c++hdr, attachment)]

Message #10 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca>
To: Kwang Ketcham <kketcham <at> cs.hmc.edu>
Cc: 405 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#405: Emacs 22.2.1 in X behaves improperly when run with low memory limits
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:42:51 -0400

> When run in an X window session and with low process memory limits, Emacs
> fails to open and/or syntax highlight some files properly.  To reproduce,
> run:

>   bash --noprofile --norc
>   ulimit -d 10240
>   emacs
>     Open treeset-private.hpp [attached]

> If things are still going smoothly, try turning on font-lock-mode.  At this
> point, I get the error 'Invalid regexp: "Regular expression too big"'.
> If the ulimit is set to 8MB instead of 10MB, Emacs encounters this error on
> startup while attempting to load the splash screen.  I have encountered
> similar errors while loading or highlighting this file with memory limits up
> to at least 12MB, if not larger.  Sometimes the file will fail to load;

What can I say: it needs more memory.  That it fails gracefully rather
than crashing and burning is rather good than bad, don't you think?


        Stefan

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