A Note on the Optimal Allocation of Spaces in MACLISP

Abstract

This note describes a method for allocating storage among the various spaces in the MACLISP Implementation of LISP. The optimal strategy which minimizes garbage collector effort allocates free storage among the various spaces in such a way that they all run out at the same time. In an equilibrium situation, this corresponds to allocating free storage to the spaces in proportion to their usage. Methods are investigated by which the rates of usage can be inferred, and a gc-daemon interrupt handler is developed which implements an approximately optimal strategy in MACLISP. Finally, the sensitivity of this method to rapidly varying differential rates of cell usage is discussed.