Stack Memory Managment

jayaraj_ev's Avatar author of Stack Memory Managment
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This is an article on Stack Memory Managment in C.

Memory Segment



Whenever U create a program and load it on a CPU ie executing UR program. It loads a Process Page on the virtual memory of UR system.That Process page will be mapped to UR Task Struct which will be in UR Process Control Block PCB.



Ps: Stack Segment and Heap Segment may grow other way too (UP and Down respectively)as it depend on the system U work
  • Intel/Windows Stack grows Upwards
  • Sparc/Solaris Stack grows Downwards

When a program is executed a Function Stack Frame is created in the Stack segment of UR Process Page for each and every function called and destroyed when U exit from the function scope.

Function Stack Frame





All Task structs have two Pointer called the Stack Pointer (SP), and the Frame (FP) or Base Pointer (BP). SP always points to the "top" of the stack, and FP always points to the "top" of the frame.

So when function are called inside functions the stack keeps growing downward. when Functions are called:
  1. Saves local variables and temporaries
  2. The fn called pushes the parameters of the fn to be called into the stack
  3. The Program counter is saved as “return address”
  4. SP pointing to previous stack is copied to the new FP
In a small program like :
Code:
void fn (void)
{
    int j;
    return;
}
int main (void)
{
     int i; 
    fn();
   return 0;
}
The Stack frame for this program would be:


To test these we can write a small Program:

Code:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void fn(void)
{
    int * ptr;
    ptr = (int *)&ptr;
    ++ptr;
    int* mainfp = (int*)(*ptr);
    --mainfp;
    --mainfp;
     *mainfp = 20;
    return;
  }

int main (void)
{
   int i = 10;
   fn();
   cout<<”I =<<i<<endl;
   return 0;
}
Ps : This program works with Ubuntu linux. Try it for windows or sun sparc.
Go4Expert Member
11Mar2009,10:08   #2
jayaraj_ev's Avatar
For those using Intel/Windows m/c

Try this

void fn(void)
{
int *ptr;
ptr = (int *)&ptr;
++ptr;
++ptr;
int* mnptr = (int *) *ptr;
--mnptr;
--mnptr;
*ptr = 300;
return;
}
Go4Expert Member
11Mar2009,10:35   #3
jayaraj_ev's Avatar
Hi Guys ,
Sorry that i missed one Infor about the stack frame.

The stack frame would be like
____________________________
|_______Local Variables_______ |
|________Padding____________ |
|______Frame Pointer_________ |
|______Return Address________ |
|_Arguments/saved Temporaries_|

So to calculate padding = if ((Total size of local variables)% or mod 8) then padding = 4 else padding = 0;

so when You need to calculate Total size of a Stack frame : Size of all parameter + sizeof RA+ sizeofFP + Padding + sizeof Local

In the example

Code:
void fn(void)
{
int *ptr;
ptr = (int *)&ptr;
++ptr;    //Points to padding memory.
++ptr;   //points to FP where is stores previous FP
int* mnptr = (int *) *ptr;

--mnptr;  //points to Padding memof Main fn
--mnptr;  //points to Local variable.
*ptr = 300;
return;
} 

int main(void)
{
  int i = 0;
  fn();
  cout<<"I ="<<i<<endl;

  return 0;
}
Contributor
16Mar2009,15:45   #4
TriG0rZ's Avatar
Wow, this is really good and i needed to know this lol for uni

thanks <3
TechCake
17Mar2009,09:56   #5
asadullah.ansari's Avatar
Good article..Jayaraj !!! Keep posting excellent articles...
Go4Expert Founder
6Apr2009,15:02   #6
shabbir's Avatar
Article of the month competition nomination started here
Newbie Member
6Apr2009,20:13   #7
MHpurple's Avatar
I am searching for this only thnks for the post very use ful
Go4Expert Founder
17Apr2009,14:15   #8
shabbir's Avatar
Vote for this article as Article of the month