How to write a memory manager that maps 4 GB for Delphi

Question

I have an object that uses more than 2 gigabytes of virtual memory But Delphi only managers 2 GB I'm considering ether making a number of objects and grouping them and using the windows wow64 method some how and use 64 bit windows. Or just upgrading memory manager to 4 GB and build it around Int64. effectively I need TStream as the base object with Int64 used, instead of integers.

Answer 1

Lexdean, you're saying:

effectively I need TStream as the base object with Int64 used, instead of integers

Well then, you're in luck (twice) because:

1. Delphi's TStream uses Int64 for position, it can access files much larger then 4Gb.
2. If a TStream interface is enough, you can write your own TStream to do whatever you want, you don't need to wait for an native 64bit Delphi compiler.

But if I were to answer the question in the title:

How to write a memory manager that maps 4 giggs for Delphi

There's no way to do that with an 32bit compiler. Join the crowd of people asking for an 64 bit Delphi compiler!

Answer 2

Having a single 2 gigabyte object is not a good idea. If memory is fragmented you won't be able to allocate one even if the amount of free memory is enough. I would suggest that you try to use a list of smaller objects.

(I remember how in Turbo Pascal (the predecessor to Delphi) a variable couldn't be larger than 64 kilobyte... Oh, the times... ;)