(XCode 7 + iOS 9 + iPhone 4s/iPhone5 only) issue: "malloc: *** mach_vm_map(size=1048576) failed (error code=3)"

malloc ios9 xcode7 xcode6.4 ios8.4
Sunil Chauhan picture Sunil Chauhan · Sep 24, 2015 · Viewed 7.8k times · Source

I know the issue is related to memory allocations, but I get it in only iOS 9, XCode 7. In XCode 6.4, iOS 8.4, it works just perfect, no issue at all at any ways. In iOS 9, XCode 7, it just crashes very frequently giving this error.

malloc: *** mach_vm_map(size=1048576) failed (error code=3) *** error: can't allocate region securely *** set a breakpoint in malloc_error_break to debug

Any suggestions? I am working on memory issues, but I wonder if there were too many memory issues, then why did it work in iOS 8.4 and not in iOS 9?

Also, I get all my UI whited out! Like navigation bar has no title, custom tabbar(RDVTabBar) is not visible, however, other view controller is there (it responds to the touch events, you can tap that area and the button positioned in that area acts!).

P.S. I don't get memory warning ever, neither applicationWillTerminate: method is being called!

Update: I found that this issue occurs in iPhone 5 and 4s only! (Non-64bit devices!)

Update 2: When the crash happens, I try to print one of the object and to print it, I again get the same error in debug mode: malloc: *** mach_vm_map(size=1048576) failed (error code=3) *** error: can't allocate region securely *** set a breakpoint in malloc_error_break to debug.

------------------ Update ------------------

Well, I found something here: I inspected my app in Instruments and detected that it occupies about 200mb of memory in iOS 8.4, and surprisingly iOS 9.* occupies 1.5 GB of the memory!!! This is something I don't understand! One app takes 200 mb of memory in iOS 8.4 and the same app takes over 1.5GB of memory on iOS 9! Not understandable at all! Any Idea?

Answer

Sunil Chauhan picture Sunil Chauhan · Oct 27, 2015

Well, I guess I have finally found the issue: Its definitely memory issue, but I had to search where. I found that I am using two third party labels namely: CXAHyperlinkLabel and STTweetLabel. When I removed those, my app just work fine!! The issue has been resolved but still I am confused why it did work (and still works) great in iOS 8.4 and eats up more than 1.5 GB of memory in iOS 9.0 and above!! If it has some issues with memory (I found some and fixed already, still), why it did work with iOS 8.*. So, my advice to any fellow who are having such issues, I recommend using UITextView for links (I did it and its nice replacement).

Related questions

Difference between malloc and calloc?

What is the difference between doing: ptr = (char **) malloc (MAXELEMS * sizeof(char *)); or: ptr = (char **) calloc (MAXELEMS, sizeof(char*)); When is it a good idea to use calloc over malloc or vice versa?

Read More
In what cases do I use malloc and/or new?

I see in C++ there are multiple ways to allocate and free data and I understand that when you call malloc you should call free and when you use the new operator you should pair with delete and it is …

Read More
Do I cast the result of malloc?

In this question, someone suggested in a comment that I should not cast the result of malloc, i.e. int *sieve = malloc(sizeof(int) * length); rather than: int *sieve = (int *) malloc(sizeof(int) * length); Why would this be the case?

Read More