how do I free stuff?

BlitzMax Forums/BlitzMax Programming/how do I free stuff?

Curtastic

(Posted 2004) [#1]

how do I free images?
is Flushmem only for Types?

Is everything freed on the End command, just like in Blitz3d?

RexRhino

(Posted 2004) [#2]

As far as I understand, all you need to do is erase all references to a resource. For example:

test_image = LoadImage("test.jpg")
DrawImage test_image, 0, 0
test_image = NULL
Flushmem

In the above, setting the test_image to none, and then flushing the memory, would erase your image test_image.

PowerPC603

(Posted 2004) [#3]

You can also use the Release command:

Release test_image
Flushmem

And everything is released at the end of the program, as usual.

Curtastic

(Posted 2004) [#4]

ok thanks

I made this

Print MemAlloced()+"    beginning"
Graphics 800,600
Print MemAlloced()+"    after graphics"
i=CreateImage(400,400)
Print MemAlloced()+"    after createimage"
'i=Null
Release i
Print MemAlloced()+"    after release image"
flushmem
Print MemAlloced()+"    after flushmem"
EndGraphics
Print MemAlloced()+"    after endgraphics"
end

eraseing all refrences to the image and flushmem does not free it.
you have to use the Release command

FlameDuck

(Posted 2004) [#5]

eraseing all refrences to the image and flushmem does not free it.

That's because you aren't using references.

you have to use the Release command

Well that, or you have to use objects.

Print MemAlloced()+"    beginning"
Graphics 800,600
Print MemAlloced()+"    after graphics"
Local i:TImage=CreateImage(400,400)
Print MemAlloced()+"    after createimage"
i=Null
'Release i
Print MemAlloced()+"    after release image"
flushmem
Print MemAlloced()+"    after flushmem"
EndGraphics
Print MemAlloced()+"    after endgraphics"
end

Read this thread for more information on how the "Garbage Collector" works.

RexRhino

(Posted 2004) [#6]

Yes, I made a mistake in my test code. This would work:

Local test_image:TImage = LoadImage("test.jpg")
DrawImage test_image, 0, 0
test_image = NULL
Flushmem

The way I had it before, test_image was just an integer making a reference to the real test_image object. But when declared as a TImage, you are accessing it directly.

Sorry about the confusion!