Garbage Collection Ergonomics (original) (raw)

Do not choose a maximum value for the heap unless you know that the heap is greater than the default maximum heap size. Choose a throughput goal that is sufficient for your application.

In an ideal situation the heap will grow to a value (less than the maximum) that will support the chosen throughput goal.

If the heap grows to its maximum, the throughput cannot be met within that maximum. Set the maximum heap as large as you can, but no larger than the size of physical memory on the platform, and execute the application again. If the throughput goal can still not be met, then it is too high for the available memory on the platform.

If the throughput goal can be met but there are pauses that are too long, select a pause time goal. This will likely mean that your throughput goal will not be met, so choose values that are an acceptable compromise for the application.