During a recent conversation with a good friend, the phrase ‘Software Endurance Testing’ came up and was explained in a way that made all kinds of light-bulb moments flash in my head. Actually, it so fascinated me that I knew I had to write it down!
Endurance testing is a type of non-functional testing which is done to check if the software system can sustain under a huge expected load continued over a long period of time. The main purpose of this test is to identify any potential memory leaks. So, during this testing, memory utilization is closely monitored.
Memory leak in a software program is a failure to release discarded memory.
A memory leak might not have a short-term impact but in the long-term, it slows down the system which leaves no free memory and will finally cause application or system crash.
Read that again if you need to because the definition of memory leak seems an oxymoron. I’ll explain in a different way: Memory leak is a situation when the program allocates memory then loses all pointers to that memory, therefore it can neither address nor free it. Memory remains marked as allocated, so it cannot be returned when more memory is requested by the program.
Memory leak is an issue which becomes apparent only after a certain period of time, thus the importance of endurance testing.
Think: mental and/or emotional wounds from your past. Trauma. Hurt. Pain. What are some memories in your past that have been so deeply buried and/or ignored that you’ve lost the pointers to them? We tend to bury pain and trauma so that we can live ‘normal’. Yet under difficulty and stress, those memory leaks trigger a reaction in which you say “I have no idea where that came from!” Or “What in the world made me react like that?” “Why do I always think that way or do that in this particular situation?”
Flashing warning lights! Potential memory leak!
Memory leak is not readily identified because of the layers of life that has happened since the memory was allocated. However, if the memory (the actual thing that happened) has not been properly dealt with, it is still taking up space in your life even though you may have forgotten about it. It will cause system failure and ultimately affect every other area of your life. It will affect your relationships. It will affect your quality of life in every way, shape and form. Inevitable system crash.
Be quick to spot potential memory leaks. What are the emotions and reactions you see in yourself during a stressful or difficult time? Maybe it was just a phrase someone said or an off-the-cuff remark, but it triggered a reaction in you. Dig into that and find the ‘Why?’!
Do you see how important it is to recognize and identify memory leaks?
Jesus Christ is the expert Systems-Engineer. He knows every single memory that we’ve allocated space for and He is the one who can guide us back through the labyrinth of the heart and mind to reveal exactly where and how that memory leak is occurring. He will not only take you there, He will also heal and reboot those memory spaces.
He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Ask Jesus to reveal those potential memory leaks. Ask a friend and/or counselor to walk the halls of discarded memory with you as you identify and release those memories. Life is an endurance test. We’ve got to have systems that will sustain efficiently under a huge expected load continued over a long period of time!
We might as well unearth those memory leak areas!
May yours be a system that continually upgrades and reboots by the power of the Systems-Engineer, Jesus.
This is done by the constant renewal of ones mind with the truth of His Word.
Jesus bless you, my dear reader. He wants to heal those areas of potential memory leak.