Overview

This repository contains a custom memory allocator written in C, designed to replace the standard POSIX malloc family at runtime using LD_PRELOAD.

The allocator is based on a slab-oriented approach for small allocations, combined with a dedicated mechanism for larger memory requests. The goal of this project is to provide a clear, structured, and functional implementation of a memory allocator, with an emphasis on readability and coherence rather than production-level optimization.

Documentation

A complete and detailed technical explanation of the allocator design, architecture, and implementation is available in the following document:

→ malloc.pdf

This document presents the full rationale, internal structure, and design choices in a scientific report format.

Build and Usage

make
LD_PRELOAD=./libmalloc.so <your_program>

The shared library libmalloc.so overrides the standard allocation functions (malloc, calloc, realloc, free) for the executed program.

Testing

Run the test suite:

make check

Clean

Clean the build files:

make clean

Notes

• This project is intended as a learning and research-oriented implementation.
• It focuses on clarity and determinism rather than performance or scalability.
• It is not intended to replace production-grade allocators.