Garbage Collector and RAM Usage

Oct 13, 2025 by pinkandtrash.com 134 views

Introduction

As a developer working with MapLibre, you may have encountered issues with the location component causing an increase in RAM usage. This problem can be particularly challenging to diagnose and resolve, especially when dealing with complex applications. In this article, we will delve into the issue, explore the steps to reproduce it, and provide insights into the relevant log output.

The Problem

The problem arises when using the puck with pulsing=true and rendering in compass mode. This can be easily reproduced using the Basic Pulsing Circle Activity in the sample app. The refreshSource in SymbolLocationLayerRenderer seems to be the culprit, as it increases the RAM usage. It appears that the setGeoJson method does not release the resources used before updating, leading to a rapid increase in RAM usage.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

Open the Basic Pulsing Circle Activity in the sample app.
Enable the puck with pulsing=true and rendering in compass mode.
Observe the RAM usage in the device's task manager or using a profiling tool.

Renderer

To reproduce the issue, ensure that the renderer is set to OpenGL. This is the default renderer, and choosing it will help you to reproduce the issue.

Relevant Log Output

Unfortunately, there is no relevant log output provided in the original report. However, we can infer that the issue is related to the RAM usage and the refreshSource in SymbolLocationLayerRenderer.

Additional Context

The original report does not provide any additional context. However, we can assume that the issue is related to the location component and the rendering of the puck with pulsing=true and compass mode.

Understanding the Issue

The issue seems to be related to the refreshSource in SymbolLocationLayerRenderer. This method appears to increase the RAM usage, as it does not release the resources used before updating. The setGeoJson method does not seem to release the resources used before updating, leading to a rapid increase in RAM usage.

Profiling the Issue

To better understand the issue, we can use a profiling tool to analyze the RAM usage. The profiling tool will help us to identify the areas of the code that are causing the increase in RAM usage.

Bitmaps and RAM Usage

The profiling tool reveals that the Bitmaps are taking up a lot of space. This is not surprising, as the rendering of the puck with pulsing=true and compass mode involves the creation of multiple bitmaps.

Garbage Collector and RAM Usage

The garbage collector does the job on phones with enough RAM. However, on smaller devices, the garbage collector may not be able to keep up with the rapid increase in RAM usage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the location component increases the RAM usage when using the puck with pulsing=true and rendering in compass mode. The refreshSource in SymbolLocationLayerRenderer seems to be the culprit, as it increases the RAM usage. The setGeoJson method does not release the resources used before updating, leading to a rapid increase in RAM usage. By understanding the issue and using a profiling tool, we can identify the areas of the code that are causing the increase in RAM usage.

Recommendations

Based on our analysis, we recommend the following:

Use a profiling tool to analyze the RAM usage and identify the areas of the code that are causing the increase in RAM usage.
Optimize the rendering of the puck with pulsing=true and compass mode to reduce the number of bitmaps created.
Use a more efficient renderer, such as the Canvas renderer, to reduce the RAM usage.
Implement a mechanism to release the resources used before updating the setGeoJson method.

By following these recommendations, we can reduce the RAM usage and improve the performance of the location component.

Future Work

In the future, we plan to investigate the following:

Implementing a more efficient rendering mechanism for the puck with pulsing=true and compass mode.
Optimizing the refreshSource in SymbolLocationLayerRenderer to reduce the RAM usage.
Investigating the use of a more efficient renderer, such as the Canvas renderer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the location component in MapLibre?

A: The location component in MapLibre is a feature that allows users to display their current location on the map. It can be used to provide users with their location, as well as to track their movement.

Q: What is the issue with the location component?

A: The issue with the location component is that it increases the RAM usage when using the puck with pulsing=true and rendering in compass mode. This can lead to a rapid increase in RAM usage, especially on smaller devices.

Q: What is the refreshSource in SymbolLocationLayerRenderer?

A: The refreshSource in SymbolLocationLayerRenderer is a method that is used to update the location component. However, it appears to increase the RAM usage, as it does not release the resources used before updating.

Q: What is the setGeoJson method?

A: The setGeoJson method is used to update the location component with new data. However, it does not release the resources used before updating, leading to a rapid increase in RAM usage.

Q: How can I reproduce the issue?

A: To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

Open the Basic Pulsing Circle Activity in the sample app.
Enable the puck with pulsing=true and rendering in compass mode.
Observe the RAM usage in the device's task manager or using a profiling tool.

Q: What are the possible solutions to the issue?

A: There are several possible solutions to the issue:

Use a profiling tool to analyze the RAM usage and identify the areas of the code that are causing the increase in RAM usage.
Optimize the rendering of the puck with pulsing=true and compass mode to reduce the number of bitmaps created.
Use a more efficient renderer, such as the Canvas renderer, to reduce the RAM usage.
Implement a mechanism to release the resources used before updating the setGeoJson method.

Q: What are the best practices for using the location component?

A: Here are some best practices for using the location component:

Use a profiling tool to analyze the RAM usage and identify the areas of the code that are causing the increase in RAM usage.
Optimize the rendering of the puck with pulsing=true and compass mode to reduce the number of bitmaps created.
Use a more efficient renderer, such as the Canvas renderer, to reduce the RAM usage.
Implement a mechanism to release the resources used before updating the setGeoJson method.

Q: What are the future plans for the location component?

A: We plan to investigate the following:

Implementing a more efficient rendering mechanism for the puck with pulsing=true and compass mode.
Optimizing the refreshSource in SymbolLocationLayerRenderer to reduce the RAM usage.
Investigating the use of a more efficient renderer, such as the Canvas renderer.

Q: How can I get help with the location component?

A: If you have any questions or need help with the location component, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and provide support.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the location component in MapLibre can increase the RAM usage when using the puck with pulsing=true and rendering in compass mode. However, by following the best practices and using a profiling tool, we can identify the areas of the code that are causing the increase in RAM usage and implement solutions to reduce the RAM usage. If you have any questions or need help with the location component, please don't hesitate to contact us.