Custom Memory Allocators, PMR, and Cache Line Optimization
Bypass global malloc bottlenecks: C++17 Polymorphic Memory Resources (PMR), fixed-size chunk free-lists, cache false sharing, and Project 3: Arena Memory Pool.
Memory layout and pointer arithmetic
Ability to engineer custom memory allocators, intrusive free-lists, PMR resources, and eliminate false sharing.
Read in order, or jump to what you need.
Every lesson builds on the one before it. Open any lesson to read the explanation, run the examples, and try the practice challenges.
- 08.01Polymorphic Memory Resources (std::pmr) and Custom Allocators4 min
Master modern C++17 memory management with std::pmr: decoupling allocator implementations from container types via virtual dispatch and monotonic buffer resources.
- 08.02Free-List Allocators, Fixed-Size Pools, and Memory Fragmentation4 min
Analyze the mechanics of memory fragmentation (internal vs external), intrusive free-lists, and fixed-size block pool allocators delivering deterministic O(1) chunks.
- 08.03Hardware Cache Lines, MESI Coherency, and False Sharing4 min
Analyze CPU memory sub-systems: 64-byte L1 cache lines, the MESI cache coherency protocol, catastrophic performance degradation from False Sharing, and hardware alignment (alignas).
- 08.04Guided Project 3: Industrial-Grade Arena & Fixed-Block Memory AllocatorProject4 min
Engineer an industrial-grade Arena Memory Allocator featuring memory alignment enforcement, sub-nanosecond pointer bumping, and bulk scope resets for high-frequency game and trading loops.
Ready to move on?
Deliver Project 3: Industrial-Grade Arena & Fixed-Block Memory Allocator.
Open the module self-check