[Etherboot-developers] Allocating memory...

[Eric W B. <ebi...@ln...>]

If for nothing else except the multicast there is a need to allocate
memory in etherboot.  Implementing malloc and free is completely overkill for
the problem.  GNU obstacks are close to what I want but have the potential
to be confused normall malloc and free.  So I have dug out my FORTH
references and have found another set of names.

void *allot(size_t size);
void forget(void *ptr);

allot allocates memory of a given size with a worst case alignment
just like malloc, but memory is freed differently.

forget frees the indicated object and all other ojbects allocated
after the indicated object.

allot and forget work with a stack instead of the more common
random access heap.  Using a stack allows a much simpler allocation
and freeing code (push,pop).  Management is much simpler because
you can generally allot and not explictly forget the memory.  Just
so long as you aren't restarted without forgetting there isn't a
memory leak.

Eric