NSLog statement does not print my object - objective-c

If i add an object to a property "dreamsArr", which is NSMutableArray:
#synthesize dreamsArr;
-(void) viewDidLoad
{
Dream *d1 = [[Dream alloc] init];
d1.title = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:#"my 1st dream"];
self.dreamsArr = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
[self.dreamsArr addObject:d1];
Dream *dr = [self.dreamsArr objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *title=dr.title;
const char *chTitle = [title UTF8String];
NSLog(#"%s", chTitle);
}
Why does NSLog print "null"?
when i trace this code, after [self.dreamsArr addObject:d1] , dreamsArr still empty, why?

Because you're using char array placeholder (%s) in NSLog statement instead of object's which should be used to print NSString. Try this:
NSLog("%#", chTitle);
Also, unless you're using ARC, you have a leak on 2nd and 4th lines of viewDidLoad method.
The line below has a leak
d1.title = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:#"my 1st dream"];
The leak comes from the assignment of title property which (i presume) is #property with retain modifier. The alloc calls creates an object with +1 retain count while assignment makes it +2. Since you don't balance it out with release call below in the method - you get a leak. Same goes for the 4th line:
self.dreamsArr = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
which creates leak in the very same manner.
Leaks are valid only if you're not releasing your dreamsArr instance variable in viewDidUnload method and title instance variable in the dealloc method of your Dream class.

problem was in the other part of code

Related

potential leak value stored never read in NSMutableArray

NOTE: i want to alloc my NSMutableArray and then assign data in it.
i got leak in below code
NSMutableArray *responseArr=[[NSMutableArray alloc]init];
responseArr =[response valueForKey:#"result"];
Also in here value stored never read
NSString *name=_txt_name.text;
if ([name length]==0) {
name=#"";
}
Also leak in below
NSDateFormatter *dateFormatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
[dateFormatter setDateFormat:#"dd/MM/yyyy HH:mm:ss"];
//below here i get leak
NSDate *dateStart = [[NSDate alloc] init];
dateStart = [dateFormatter dateFromString:startDate];
EDIT :
I have disable ARC using -fno-objc-arc in reachability Class even i get below leaks
This line
NSMutableArray *responseArr=[[NSMutableArray alloc]init];
Allocates a new NSMutableArray and assigns a reference to it to responseArr
This line
responseArr = [response valueForKey:#"result"];
Takes a value from a dictionary (that presumably is a reference to an NSMutableArray) and assigns that to responseArr. At this point there are no more references to the original NSMutableArray that you allocated, so it will be deallocated.
You can just say:
NSMutableArray *responseArr = (NSMutableArray *)response[#"result"];
Similarly with your date code, you could just say:
NSDate *dateStart = [dateFormatter dateFromString:startDate];
There is no need to assign an initial value, only to throw it away.
None of the code you have shown will cause leaks, assuming you are using ARC.
If you aren't using ARC, then start using ARC!
A. First snippet
Using MRC (MRR) you have to balance allocations with +alloc your own:
NSMutableArray *responseArr = [[NSMutableArray alloc]init];
responseArr = [response valueForKey:#"result"];
In the first line you allocate an instance of NSArray. You have to (auto-)release it later, otherwise it is a memory leak. I think you misunderstood that you create a new instance of NSArray using -valueForKey and assign the value of this new reference to responseArr. (Therefore you do not need a mutable array.) After that you created two objects having only one reference to the new one, you can never release the old one.
Do something like this:
NSArray *responseArr = [[NSArray alloc]init];
NSArray *resultArr =[response valueForKey:#"result"];
[responseArr release];
You do not have to do that with the object referred by resultArr, because it isn't created with +alloc-init. Here you get an introduction to ownership.
B. Third snippet
It is the same with the last example:
NSDateFormatter *dateFormatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
You +alloc-init that instance object, but there is no release in your code. Therefore it cannot be released anymore, when the reference dateFormatter loses its extent (lifetime), i. e. returning from the method.
Add this code at the end of the method:
[dateFormatter release];
C. Second snippet
The second example has a different problem: You assign a value to the var name without using the variable in the code below. So assigning the value is meaningless.

Regarding memory management in Objective C

According to the static analyzer if we have the following property:
#property (retain, nonatomic) SomeObject * object;
and then we assign the property like so:
self.object = [SomeObject alloc] init];
a leak occurs. This makes sense because the alloc init adds +1 to the retain count and then the retaining property also increments the retain count. What is the best solution here? typically I just add an autorelease like so:
self.object = [[SomeObject alloc] init] autorelease];
But sometimes this creates problems for me and I end up over releasing the object causing my app to crash. I don't have any specific examples right now but I remember I had to take out some autoreleases cause of the application crashing. Is there something I am missing here?
EDIT: I have a concrete example now of the issue I was running into.
NSMutableArray *newData = [NSMutableArray array];
//If this is true then we are showing all of the items in that level of hierarchy and do not need to show the summary button.
if (!(contextID.count >= 1 && [[contextID objectAtIndex:contextID.count - 1] isEqual:[NSNull null]]) && contextID.count != 0)
{
GeographyPickerItem * firstItem = [[GeographyPickerItem alloc] init];
firstItem.primaryString = [NSString stringWithString:#"Summary"];
firstItem.subString = [NSString stringWithString:#""];
firstItem.isSummaryItem = YES;
[newData addObject:firstItem];
[firstItem release]; //TODO: Figure out why this is causing EXC_BAD_ACCESS errors
}
self.hierData = newData;
The code above is in the init method of a viewcontroller. HierData is a retained property, which is released in the viewControllers dealloc method. GeographyPickerItem retains the two strings, primaryString and subString and releases them in its own dealloc method. My application crashes (sometimes) when the viewControllers are de-alloced following a pop off of a navigation controller. It crashes with a EXC_BAD_ACCESS signal in the dealloc method of GeographyPickerItem (either on [substring release] or [primaryString release]).
I don't understand why this is happening because I believe I am following proper memory management guidelines. If I comment out firstItem release everything is fine.
The autorelease method you mention is fine, as is the other common idiom of:
SomeObject *thing = [[SomeObject alloc] init];
self.object = thing;
[thing release];
If you end up overreleasing later on, that is your problem. This part, which you're apparently doing correctly, is not the problem.
SomeObject * new_object = [SomeObject alloc] init];
self.object = new_object;
[new_object release];
or use ARC
check the GeographyPickerItem, if the strings properties are assign (and change to retain), or check if you always initialize them (before release).
also remember the difference of manually allocating :
[[NSString alloc] initWith...]
You must release or autorelease.
[NSString stringWith...]
No need to release.
or use ARC like meggar said
Turns out the issue was simple, my dealloc method called super dealloc at the start of the method rather than at the end. You always have to release your instance variables before you call [super dealloc]!

"Incorrect decrement" and "Potential leak" messages from Analyzer

When I compile with the analyzer, I get a couple of messages. I have these properties declared:
#property (nonatomic, retain) SyncServicePrimary *syncAndCartOne;
#property (nonatomic, retain) SyncServiceSecondary *syncAndCartTwo;
This method is called from applicationDidBecomeActive and I get "Potential leak of an object allocated".
-(void)makeTheCartObjectsForCountry:(NSString*)country_key{
self.syncAndCartOne = [[SyncServicePrimary alloc] init];
self.syncAndCartTwo = [[SyncServiceSecondary alloc] init];
}
This is called in applicationWillResignActive; here I get "Incorrect decrement of the reference count of an object".
-(void) removeTheCartObjects{
[self.syncAndCartOne release];
self.syncAndCartOne = Nil;
[self.syncAndCartTwo release];
self.syncAndCartTwo = Nil;
}
If I set the objects to autorelease, the error goes away, but I want the objects to be released when the app hides itself.
Is this something I am doing right but that is split too far for the analyzer to see the start and end, or is this something I can do better/properly so it won't complain?
Its more than likely that I am missing a simple concept with regard to release and alloc cycles (I've come from PHP and C#).
Your problem is here:
-(void)makeTheCartObjectsForCountry:(NSString*)country_key{
self.syncAndCartOne = [[SyncServicePrimary alloc] init];
self.syncAndCartTwo = [[SyncServiceSecondary alloc] init];
}
You're creating the objects and then retaining them (because of the property declaration), so they have a reference count of 2, when only one object is referencing them.
You should do it like this:
-(void)makeTheCartObjectsForCountry:(NSString*)country_key{
SyncServicePrimary *primary = [[SyncServicePrimary alloc] init];
self.syncAndCartOne = primary;
[primary release];
SyncServiceSecondary *secondary = [[SyncServiceSecondary alloc] init];
self.syncAndCartTwo = secondary;
[secondary release];
}
You have defined the properties with attribute retain, so the analyzer assumes that the setter method for the property looks like this:
- (void)setSyncAndCartOne:(SyncServicePrimary *)newValue
{
[newValue retain];
[self->_syncAndCartOne release]; // access the instance variable holding the property value
self->_syncAndCartOne = newValue;
}
If you use #synthesize, the setter method will look like that.
So, when makeTheCartObjectsForCountry: returns, the object in syncAndCartOne has a retain count of 2, but should only have a retain count of 1. That's why using autorelease fixes it.
You shouldn't be doing [self.syncAndCartOne release] for the same reason. The setter method will send the old object a release when you assign nil to the property.

objective c setter method memory management

I have question about allocating and releasing objects:
if I have code like this:
MyObject *object = [[MyObject alloc] init];
NSMutableString *string = [[NSMutableString alloc]initWithString:#"bla"];
object.myString = string;
NSLog(#"retain count: %d",[object.myString retainCount]); //gives me 2
[string release];
NSLog(#"retain count: %d",[object.myString retainCount]); //gives me 1
Than I have exactly what I want. I need just one reference and I have retain count 1
but
if I use
object.myString = [[NSMutableString alloc]initWithString:#"bla"];
my property look like this:
#property (nonatomic,retain) NSMutableString *myString;
one alloc, and one setter method with retain gives me as retain count 2
If I release the object after resignment than the app crashes. I dont know why?
So , do i have to always create an object with a temporary reference, than assign to real reference and release the temp reference like first code?
or is there any other way?
Yes and no. Generally, this is a common pattern:
// create the object, retain count 1
MyObject *myObject = [[MyObject alloc] init];
// increment the retain count in the setter
self.myObjectProperty = myObject;
// let go of the object before the end of the current method
[myObject release];
You can avoid the release, sort of, by using autorelease pools. More accurately, you indicate that you want the object to be released soon:
MyObject *myObject = [[[MyObject alloc] init] autorelease];
self.myObjectProperty = myObject;
// all done!
With many of the Apple-provided classes, you can use class methods other than alloc/init to get objects that are already autoreleased. Your example could be rewritten as:
MyObject *myObject = [[MyObject alloc] init];
myObject.myString = [NSMutableString stringWithFormat:#"bla"];
A final note: -retainCount is a blunt object. Particularly with NSStrings and other built-in classes, it may return results that are quite different from what you expect. Generally you should avoid it.

Memory leak for NSDictionary loaded by plist file

I have a memory leak problem that just can not understand! Watch this initialization method:
- (id)initWithNomeCompositore:(NSString *)nomeCompositore nomeOpera:(NSString *)nomeOpera {
if (self = [super init]) {
NSString *pathOpere = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:kNomeFilePlistOpere ofType:kTipoFilePlist];
NSDictionary *dicOpera = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithDictionary:
[[[NSDictionary dictionaryWithContentsOfFile:pathOpere]
objectForKey:nomeCompositore]
objectForKey:nomeOpera]];
self.nomeCompleto = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:nomeOpera];
self.compositore = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:nomeCompositore];
self.tipologia = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:[dicOpera objectForKey:kKeyTipologia]];
}
return self;}
Then this little variation (note self.tipologia):
- (id)initWithNomeCompositore:(NSString *)nomeCompositore nomeOpera:(NSString *)nomeOpera {
if (self = [super init]) {
NSString *pathOpere = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:kNomeFilePlistOpere ofType:kTipoFilePlist];
NSDictionary *dicOpera = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithDictionary:
[[[NSDictionary dictionaryWithContentsOfFile:pathOpere]
objectForKey:nomeCompositore]
objectForKey:nomeOpera]];
self.nomeCompleto = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:nomeOpera];
self.compositore = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:nomeCompositore];
self.tipologia = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:#"Test"];
}
return self;}
In the first variant is generated a memory leak, the second is not! And I just can not understand why! The memory leak is evidenced by Instruments, highlighted the line:
[NSDictionary dictionaryWithContentsOfFile:pathOpere]
This is the dealloc method:
- (void)dealloc {
[tipologia release];
[compositore release];
[nomeCompleto release];
[super dealloc];}
Remember that alloc returns an object that you own.
If you declared your three string properties as retain, assigning those objects to your properties means you now own each one twice—once because you allocked it, and again because you assigned it to your property. The objects remain alive because nothing releases their second ownerships.
If you declared the properties as copy (which is the correct way to declare an NSString property), assigning the object there stores a copy as the value of the property. You do nothing further with the original objects, which remain alive because nothing releases them.
Either way, that is your leak.
The property should be declared as copy; if it already is, don't try to fix the leak by changing that.
You should not use property access here. Remember that assigning to a property is a set<PropertyName>: message, and that your object is not fully initialized yet. Sending a message to an incompletely-initialized or incompletely-deallocated object is asking for trouble, particularly when subclasses are involved, since they may override the accessor methods in ways the superclass doesn't expect.
So, in init only, assign directly to the instance variables. In dealloc only, send release messages directly to the objects in the instance variables. Everywhere else, use property accesses.
You also should not use alloc and initWithString: here. It'll work, but the convention is to send copy messages to the objects you already have, the same as the properties would do. Send copy messages to your input string objects, then assign the copies to your instance variables.
When you do use property accesses, use the convenience constructors (stringWith…:, for example), as these return objects that you do not own. When you assign these objects to your copy-declared properties, you will actually be storing copies that you do own.
The other way would be to use alloc and initWithWhatever:, then immediately autorelease that object before assigning it to the property; this way creates an object that you own, then immediately gives up ownership before assigning it to the property.
Try
nomeCompleto = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:nomeOpera];
compositore = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:nomeCompositore];
tipologia = [[NSString alloc] initWithString:[dicOpera objectForKey:kKeyTipologia]];
or
self.nomeCompleto = nomeOpera;
self.compositore = nomeCompositore;
self.tipologia = [dicOpera objectForKey:kKeyTipologia];
instead of self.xxx = [[yyy alloc] init...].
In the original code, the RHS of the assignment returns an object of retain count +1, and if you make the #property having (retain) or (copy), the final retain count would be +2. Therefore, even if you release these in -dealloc, the net retain count is +1, causing a memory leak.
BTW, there's no point calling +dictionaryWithDictionary:. Just use
NSDictionary* dicOpera = [[[NSDictionary dictionaryWithContentsOfFile:pathOpere]
objectForKey:nomeCompositore]
objectForKey:nomeOpera];