Question. Free memory in Game Loop(J2ME)

[videador]

Hi

I have a question that how force to free memory. I put here basic design of my game loop using with only one canvas. Is MIDP 1.0. Next of code my question.

public class MyCanvas
extends FullCanvas implements Runnable{
 
    ...
   public MyCanvas(){
    ...
    menu = new MENU(....);
    game = new GAME(....);
    ...
  }

    run(){
            while(end){
                 switch(STATE)
                 case MENU:
                         menu.doLogic();                  
                 case GAME:
                         game.doLogic();                         

                 Repaint();
                 serviceRepaints();
            }
    }

    ...
    paint(Graphics g){

                 switch(STATE)
                 case MENU:
                         menu.draw(g);                  
                 case GAME:
                         game.draw(g);                         
                
    }

For example 'menu' load image of background, big image. I want know as can free 'menu' object when STATE are on GAME for free space in memory, because i think that background image for example is too big for have in memory all the time, for obtain more velocity in GAME state. ¿All this is correct?.

I know that in java is GC who free the memory, but as i wrote before, isnt good have data of menu when we are in GAME state.

¿For example this free the memory?


public class MyCanvas
extends FullCanvas implements Runnable{

    ...
   public MyCanvas(){
    ...
    menu = new MENU(....);    
    ...
  }

    run(){
            while(end){
                 switch(STATE)
                 case MENU:
                         if(firstTime){
                              game=null;
                              menu = new MENU(..);
                              firstTime=false;
                         }
                         menu.doLogic();                  
                         break;
                 case GAME:
                         if(firstTime){
                              menu=null;
                              game = new GAME(..);
                              firstTime=false;
                         }
                         game.doLogic();        
                         break;                 

                 Repaint();
                 serviceRepaints();
            }
    }

    ...
    paint(Graphics g){

                 switch(STATE)
                 case MENU:
                         menu.draw(g);                  
                 case GAME:
                         game.draw(g);                         
                
    }

With this code, ¿are loaded in memory the data of 'menu' when STATE is GAME?.

[juarezjunior]

Hi there,

You should mark the unused references as null and call System.gc() (or Runtime.gc()) but as you may know this is not deterministic, the GC can happen right away or afterwards.

Also, check that:

Technical Note: Tuning Up Java™ MIDP Performance
http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.n..._0_en.pdf.html

J2ME performance tips
http://www.javaperformancetuning.com/tips/j2me.shtml

BR

[handsoft]

I did not recommend you to include a System.gc() in your main game cycle, in several phone devices this action get down the FPS.

[juarezjunior]

Of course, you must analyze and see the hotspots where you can safely include some calls, anyway you will need some...no doubts.

[manjul_saini]

hi, if you wana to free memory allocated to object, initialise null to them and request for garbage collection, And do not load both the class at same time, load only menu class and it should not at all depend upon game class and vice-versa and see this

public MyCanvas(){
    ...
    menu = new MENU(....);    
    ...
  }

it means you are loading menu class in my canvas take care of it.

[ingsaurabh]

yeah in most cases marking unused classes as null do the work but never call system.gc for garbage collection in j2me as in most cases it only reduces the performance and moreover porting issues are also raised so better is to mark them null and wait for system to remove them autonomously