DanMalloc

DanMalloc is a custom memory allocator written in C. It was developed by Daniel Colomer and is designed to provide an alternative to the standard C library's `malloc` and `free` functions. The primary motivations behind its creation often include exploring different memory management strategies, achieving specific performance characteristics, or providing more granular control over memory allocation.

The allocator typically works by managing a pool of memory, dividing it into blocks of various sizes. When a request for memory is made, DanMalloc searches for a suitable block that can fulfill the request. If no exact match is found, it may split a larger block or combine smaller adjacent free blocks. When memory is freed, DanMalloc attempts to coalesce adjacent free blocks to reduce fragmentation and improve the efficiency of future allocations.

DanMalloc is often used in embedded systems or performance-critical applications where the overhead or behavior of the standard allocator might be undesirable. Its implementation can vary, but common features include techniques for reducing external and internal fragmentation, improving allocation speed, and providing better predictability in memory usage. Developers might choose to integrate DanMalloc when they need a specialized allocator tailored to their specific application's memory access patterns or when aiming for a smaller memory footprint. The source code is typically available for inspection and modification, allowing users to adapt it further to their needs.