Lisp heap

[bright@ENH.NIST.GOV]

Hi out there!

I've got a lisp heap memory problem when running my image processing
system.  It goes like this,
where mac heap and lisp heap refer to the free memory, i.e., the available
space on the respective heaps:
* load a large image array - Lisp heap shrinks.  That's ok.  (Monitored
heaps with (room)).
* display the image (make a pixmap, etc). - Mac heap shrinks.  Ok.
* display it again. - Mac heap steals room from Lisp heap.  Ok, but it
doesn't give it back...
* close one or both windows - Mac heap expands.  Mac heap does NOT give
room back to Lisp heap - even when Lisp is gc'ing like mad.
* get rid of arrays, ie., assign the global variables to nil.  Even unbind
the global variables. - Lisp heap remains small or gains just a little
room.

The image arrays are referenced by global variables, and by slots in
special windows.  When they are not needed any more, the windows are closed
(and presumably the accessor functions disappear, and variables are set to
nil so that hopefully the memory can be garbage collected.

Does anyone have suggestions as to where I might look for the Lisp heap memory?

Thanks very much
Dave

-------------------------------------------------------------
David S. Bright                        bright@enh.nist.gov
Microanalysis Research Group
Bldg. 222 (Chem.) A113
National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST, formerly NBS)
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001   / USA
301-975-3911 (voice),  301-216-1134 (fax)
"You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may
live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.",  Deuteronomy 25:15