NAME

Devel::MAT - Perl Memory Analysis Tool

DESCRIPTION

A Devel::MAT instance loads a heapdump file, and provides a container to store analysis tools to work on it. Tools may be provided that conform to the Devel::MAT::Tool API, which can help analyse the data and interact with the explorer user interface by using the methods in the Devel::MAT::UI package.

File Format

The dump file format is still under development, so at present no guarantees are made on whether files can be loaded over mismatching versions of Devel::MAT. However, as of version 0.11 the format should be more extensible, allowing new SV fields to be added without breaking loading - older tools will ignore new fields and newer tools will just load undef for fields absent in older files. As the distribution approaches maturity the format will be made more stable.

CONSTRUCTOR

$pmat = Devel::MAT->load( $path, %args )

Loads a heap dump file from the given path, and returns a new Devel::MAT instance wrapping it.

METHODS

$df = $pmat->dumpfile

Returns the underlying Devel::MAT::Dumpfile instance backing this analysis object.

@tools = $pmat->available_tools

Lists the Devel::MAT::Tool classes that are installed and available.

$tool = $pmat->load_tool( $name )

Loads the named Devel::MAT::Tool class.

@text = $pmat->identify( $sv, %opts )

Traces the tree of inrefs from $sv back towards the known roots, returning a textual description as a list of lines of text.

The lines of text, when printed, will form a reverse reference tree, showing the paths from the given SV back to the roots.

This method will load Devel::MAT::Tool::Inrefs if it isn't yet loaded.

The following named options are recognised:

depth => INT

If specified, stop recursing after the specified count. A depth of 1 will only print immediately referring SVs, 2 will print the referrers of those, etc.

strong => BOOL

direct => BOOL

Specifies the type of inrefs followed. By default all inrefs are followed. Passing strong will follow only strong direct inrefs. Passing direct will follow only direct inrefs.

$sv = $pmat->find_symbol( $name )

Attempts to walk the symbol table looking for a symbol of the given name, which must include the sigil.

$Package::Name::symbol_name => to return a SCALAR SV
@Package::Name::symbol_name => to return an ARRAY SV
%Package::Name::symbol_name => to return a HASH SV
&Package::Name::symbol_name => to return a CODE SV

$gv = $pmat->find_glob( $name )

Attempts to walk to the symbol table looking for a symbol of the given name, returning the GLOB object if found.

AUTHOR

Paul Evans <leonerd@leonerd.org.uk>