Malloc and calloc function, Operating System

Assignment Help:

Note that the parameter for scanf doesn't need the address operators & because name is an address. However the variable name has no defined space. This can cause problems within C and we really should define the space .Within C we can allocate space by means of character array or system functions namely malloc, free and calloc.If we declare a character array, it also reserves the space required for that string (After all a string is a collection i.e. array of characters). Therefore the program becomes

    #include stdio.h
    void main()
    {
    char prompt;
    /*Author : Mr James Mc Carren  
    Company: Staffordshire University  
     Date: 26th August 2012  
    Version 1.0  
    Function : String storing using static storage       
     Modifications:   none*/
    char name[20];
    scanf("%s",name);
    printf("your name is %s \n\r",name);  
    printf("Press and key to exit \n\r");
    scanf("\n%c",&prompt);
    }
This allocates 20 spaces to the string name, however if we wish to input a 50 character  string , we would need to re-compile the program , an alternative is to use Malloc/Free .Malloc checks during run time whether there is enough  space left and if there is it allocated it while Free  releases the space allocated to a variable .The syntax for malloc/Free is  
 
     variable = ( char *)malloc(char size);
     free(variable);
 
Therefore the program becomes
 
    #include stdio.h
    #include stdlib.h
    void main()
    {
    char prompt;
   
     Date: 26th August 2012 
    Version 1.0 
    Function : String storing using dynamic allocation       
     Modifications:   none*/
      char *name;
      name = (char *)malloc(20);
      if (name == NULL) 
      {
      printf("Cannot allocate memory\n\r");
      exit(1);
      }
      scanf("%s",name);
      printf("your name is %s \n\r",name); 

      free(name);  
    printf("Press and key to exit \n\r");
    scanf("\n%c",&prompt);
    }

  Because Malloc allocates memory dynamically, we must place a trap routine to detect when the microprocessor cannot allocate memory (i.e. memory full), in this case malloc returns a NULL character back as the address of the variable i.e. This routine would detect the NULL character and exit the program .Note that malloced space is similar to a variable in that its life span is automatically terminated when a free command is used or the function where it was allocated ends no matter what you make read - this is not the case in C++  
 
      if (name == NULL) 
      {
      printf("Cannot allocate memory\n\r");
      exit(1);
      }
 
Therefore we could allocate a scratch pad of memory using malloc and we can poke around in that
area e.g.
 
  #include
    #include
    void main()
    { 
    char prompt;  
  
     Date: 26th August 2012
    Version 1.0 
Function : Dynamic allocation  of windows pointr area i.e segmented memory     
     Modifications:   none*/
 
      char *name;
      unsigned long int address;
      unsigned char *add;
      unsigned char data;
      name = (char *)malloc(0x4000);
      if (name == NULL) 
      {
      printf("Cannot allocate memory\n\r");
      exit(1);
      }
printf("Your segment area is %08lx to %08lx\n\r",name,name+(unsigned long int)0x4000);
printf("Please enter in the address  you want to read in the segment area\n\r");
scanf("%lx",&address);
add = (unsigned char *)address;
data = *add;
printf("The data at the address %08lx is %02x\n\r",address,data); 
printf("Press and key to exit \n\r");
scanf("\n%c",&prompt);
}


Related Discussions:- Malloc and calloc function

What is the use of boot block, What is the use of boot block? For a com...

What is the use of boot block? For a computer to begin running when powered up or rebooted it requires having an initial program to run. This bootstrap program tends to be easy

Lock revenue variable, Demonstrate that your program (include the program o...

Demonstrate that your program (include the program output as part of the final report) can produce the correct output with the following parameters. For each case comment if the ou

Necessary conditions for deadlock, Here are the conditions necessary for a ...

Here are the conditions necessary for a deadlock to occur; note that all of them are necessary, and none is suf?cient: 1. ?nite resources: the resources are held in a mutually-e

Batch oriented and interactive operating system., properies of Batch orient...

properies of Batch oriented and interactive operating system.

Parent process: why not finishing and how to make finish, #include #inclu...

#include #include #include #include #include int main(void) { int pchan[2], pid, rval, cvar; char buf[20]; if (pipe(pchan) == -1){

Determine the minimum number of units of resource, An operating system invo...

An operating system involves 3 user processes each one requiring 2 units of resource R .The minimum number of units of R like no deadlocks will ever take place is The minimum

BARBER SHOP PROBLEM, a) The barber shop has one barber, one barber chair, a...

a) The barber shop has one barber, one barber chair, and n chairs for waiting customers, to sit on. If there are no customers present, the barber sits down in the barber chair and

Explain about directory structure, Normal 0 false false fal...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Programable clock modes in computer systems, Ask question #Minimuexplain th...

Ask question #Minimuexplain the programable clock modes in a computer system m 100 words accepted#

Linux OS, Ask questioDevelop a utility in C language which will run in Linu...

Ask questioDevelop a utility in C language which will run in Linux operating systems to display following properties of the system: ? Processor speed ? Ram size ? Computer name ? S

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd