GETMEM(2) Xinu Programmer's Manual GETMEM(2) NAME getmem, getstk - get a block of main memory SYNOPSIS char *getmem(nbytes) int nbytes; char *getstk(nbytes) int nbytes; DESCRIPTION In either form, _g_e_t_m_e_m rounds the number of bytes, _n_b_y_t_e_s, to an even-word multiple, and allocates a block of _n_b_y_t_e_s bytes of memory for the caller. _G_e_t_m_e_m returns the lowest word address in the allocated block; _g_e_t_s_t_k returns the highest word address in the allocated block. If less than _n_b_y_t_e_s bytes remain, the call returns SYSERR. _G_e_t_m_e_m allocates memory starting with the end of the loaded program. _G_e_t_s_t_k allocates memory from the stack area down- ward. The routines cooperate so they never allocate over- lapping regions. SEE ALSO freemem(2) getbuf(2), freebuf(2) BUGS There is no way to protect memory, so the active stack may write into regions returned by either call; allocations returned by _g_e_t_s_t_k are more prone to disaster because they lie closest to the dynamic stack areas of other processes. Version 6b Printed 1/12/87 1