MapTool Memory Usage

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How Maptool Uses Memory

When MapTool starts, the Java virtual machine (the program that lets MapTool run on your computer!) configures a number of settings for the program. Three of these settings affect the memory given to MapTool: heap memory (the memory MapTool uses to store data and resources), and stack memory (the amount of memory threads are allowed to use).

Heap memory

The heap memory allocated to MapTool indicates how much memory MapTool uses to store objects (maps, tokens, image files, macros, etc.) Heap memory allocation is controlled by two options: -Xms sets the starting heap size (the initial amount of memory MapTool is allocated) and -Xmx sets the maximum heap size (the maximum amount of memory MapTool is allowed to access).

If you set the maximum heap size too low, MapTool may run out of memory and crash, freeze, or have other problems. MapTool clients that are connecting to a server should use the same memory settings as the server when possible; otherwise clients may freeze or lose connection when using larger or more complex maps.

Stack memory

The stack memory is the amount of memory each thread is given; threads are sub-processes that handle application functions like network access, macro execution, and drawing the UI. Stack memory allocation is controlled by one option: -Xss sets the stack size (each thread is given exactly the amount specified; there is no starting or maximum stack size).

Some macro frameworks will require larger stack sizes as they perform more complex calculations and functions; they will usually specify their stack requirements. If a thread runs out of stack memory you will see a StackOverflow error and the macro will not work.

Configuring memory allocation for MapTool

In the beginning, MapTool used whatever default stack size and heap size Java felt like setting. The actual amount varied from operating system to operating system, but it was generally enough for the simple macros that were in use at the time. As the power and flexibility of the macro code increased, macros began to bump up against the limits of the default stack, and users began adjusting the stack size to compensate. As frameworks and maps became larger and more complex, users began adjusting the maximum heap size.

The amount of memory is specified in kilobytes or megabytes; "512K" is 512 kilobytes, while "512M" is 512 megabytes.

WARNING: Stack memory is allocated in addition to heap memory and each thread receives the same amount of stack memory. If you set the stack memory allocation too high, the Java VM can consume far more memory than is necessary which will affect overall computer performance.

See MapTool Preferences#JVM Memory Settings for instructions on configuring memory allocation for MapTool.

If you want to run MapTool twice on OS X ...

You might want this for testing purposes, or perhaps you're using a dual-monitor setup where one screen shows MapTool running as a GM and the other shows MapTool running as a Player (such as a HDTV or LCD projector). In other words, you open MapTool once and start a server, then open it again and connect to the server as a client.

1. Open Terminal
2. Type open -n "MapTool.app" (or whatever name your MapTool is saved as) and press Enter

Otherwise, when you double-click an application on OS X it simply re-activates the application window that's already running. I don't know of any way of running open -n from the GUI although it would be a pretty simple AppleScript program. (It looks like it's solved here: http://superuser.com/questions/67190/how-can-i-get-an-dock-icon-to-launch-a-program-multiple-times And then this page has a description of how to do the same thing with a Ctrl-Click menu option: http://lifehacker.com/#!5766390/how-to-open-two-instances-of-an-application-in-os-x )

As MapTool is quite a small program, another way to do it is just duplicating and renaming the program (as "MapTool-client" for instance). This would not usually be a clean way to handle it, but again, it's a small software. The good point is you now have two programs with different names. Once the two are launched, it's easy to tell which is which in the Dock or when command-tabbing to switch from one to the other.