CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++cwindowswinapiprocess
T.T.T.
T.T.T.

Reputation: 34523

What is overlaying shared memory?

I am looking at someones code comments and in a function mapping shared memory with another process it mentios grabbing a pointer and "overlaying" the shared memory.

Is that a made up word or concept or is it something very specific. I can't seem to make sense of it looking at the code either.

Thank You.

Upvotes: 3

Views: 377

Answers (2)

shelleybutterfly
shelleybutterfly

Reputation: 3247

Well, overlay does have a pretty specific meaning, see e.g: Wikipedia article on overlay.

However in the context you describe, it sounds like it's may just be a term used by the other developer to signify that you are using a memory location that is conceptually the same memory that being used within the other process.

If this doesn't clear it up, it might help to know a bit more about the applications involved; e.g. what's the memory supposed to be used for, etc.

Upvotes: 2

Carey Gregory
Carey Gregory

Reputation: 6846

There's nothing specific about it, nor is it a made up word. It means simply that the code overwrites the shared memory. Wikipedia entry. The Wiki entry goes on in detail about overlay programming techniques, which is a specific meaning, but the first sentence describes the general meaning of the word. I've used it and heard it used many times.

Upvotes: 6

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