PythonOption directive causes memory leak

• Key: MODPYTHON-60
• Type: Bug
• Status: Closed
• Resolution: Fixed
• Priority: Critical
• Assignee: Jim Gallacher
• Reporter: Jim Gallacher
• Component/s: core
• Affects Version/s: 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.2.7
• Fix Version/s: 3.2.7

Description

This was previously reported on the mod_python mailing list. See http://www.modpython.org/pipermail/mod_python/2004-April/015395.html

A memory leak results when there is a PythonOption directive in the apache config file. Leak occurs when PythonOption is in either <VirtualHost> or <Directory> section.

For each request, approx 25 bytes of memory is leaked per PythonOption directive.

Methodolgy (using top to gauge memory usage, 100,000 requests per test case):

def handler(req):
    req.content_type = 'text/plain'
    req.write('PythonOption test\n')
    return apache.OK

1. No PythonOption directives:
    1.4 % MEM

2. 50 PythonOption directives:
    11.3% MEM

3. 100 PythonOption directives:
     25.4 % MEM


I know 50 or 100 PythonOptions is not likely in a production system, but it clearly demonstrate the leak.