NAME
alloc, free - core allocator
SYNOPSIS
char *alloc(size)
free(ptr)
char *ptr;
DESCRIPTION
Alloc and free provide a simple general-purpose core manage-
ment package. Alloc is given a size in bytes; it returns a
pointer to an area at least that size which is even and
hence can hold an object of any type. The argument to free
is a pointer to an area previously allocated by alloc; this
space is made available for further allocation.
Needless to say, grave disorder will result if the space
assigned by alloc is overrun or if some random number is
handed to free.
The routine uses a first-fit algorithm which coalesces
blocks being freed with other blocks already free. It calls
sbrk (see break (II)) to get more core from the system when
there is no suitable space already free.
DIAGNOSTICS
Returns -1 if there is no available core.
BUGS
Allocated memory contains garbage instead of being cleared.
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