50 MB RAM normal for 1500 lines of code?

[Kay Tracid]

Hi!
I have a program with 1500 lines. There are some JPanels(6 or more), 3 threads, a mySQL and ftp connection, a comlex dialog and a property file. If I start my prog it uses 15 MB.
1. When I use my program with all functions it needs 50 MB. I think that is to much for small program.
2. When I minimize the program in the task bar (Windows) and maximize it again, it takes only 6 MB RAM. It shrinks from 50 MB to 6 MB. How is this possible?
Thanks !
Bye

[Thomas Smets]

There is IMHO many reason for it !
The most likely one is that you do not de-allocate the Objects as it should.
Basically you should nullify all the references you have when you don't need them !

  
public interface destructable
{
  public void destroy ();
}

All your class can then implement the interface like this :

public class MyClass
  impements Desctructable
{
  ObjectRef O1, O2;
  MyClass ()
  {
    // ... Do what ever you want
  }
  public void destroy ()
  {
    // The next two lines are not mandatory & can either greatly 
    // improve the general performance but also 
    // generate NullPointerException
    O1.destroy ();
    O2.destroy ();
    01 = null;
    O2 = null;
  }
}

You basically don't need to call on
System.gc();, it will be OKAY w/o that !
By doing that you basically reduce the length of chains of unreferenced objects making the job of the GC easier !
There is on IBM alpha work a very good article about that !
You may also reduce the amount of memeory a program is allowed to use with the java -X options ...
Yrs,
[ April 20, 2002: Message edited by: Thomas SMETS ]

[Kay Tracid]

Thanks!!!
Do mean the Interface "Destroyable"? I will try it, thanks a lot!