Re: LISP Questions - random, random elements and memory management

[Barry Margolin]

In article <mailman.11040.1258631785.2239.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org>,
 Jeff Clough <jeff@chaosphere.com> wrote:

> From: Kevin Rodgers <kevin.d.rodgers@gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:03:51 -0700
> 
> > The data *is* in memory.  The function is zippy because nth is fast,
> > in
> > turn because cdr is fast (and implemented in C).  And perhaps the cons
> > cells for the list are allocated in adjacent memory, if it is
> > constructed all at once.
> > 
> > Of course you can put the data (defconst forms) and function (defun)
> > in
> > the same .el file!
> 
> Um, actually I was looking for a way that would allow me to keep the
> data *out* of memory until it was needed, then toss it on the floor
> when I was done, that way I'm only eating the RAM *some* of the time
> instead of all the time.  With my existing scheme, the data is in
> memory as soon as the .el file is loaded.

How about putting it in a text file that you load into a temporary 
buffer when you need it?  Then kill the buffer when you're done with it.

-- 
Barry Margolin, barmar@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
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