Programming Language Fundamentals by Example

10

STORAGE MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Regardless of type or lifetime, values must be stored in computer memory during their lifetimes. The purpose of this chapter is to address the issues of designing and implementing storage schemes.

10.1  COMPUTER MEMORY

Each manufacturer has its own detailed implementation; most present a von Neumann architecture to the programmer (Figure 10.1). Memory tends to be passive; information is stored at and retrieved from locations determined external to the memory. Again using the CRUD acronym to guide development, the active agent must

Create: a place in memory that is not shared by any other storage unit

Read: values by copying and not destroying content

Update: content without interfering with other storage units ...