In computer programming, housekeeping can refer to either a standard entry or exit routine appended to a user-written block of code (such as a subroutine or function, sometimes as a function prologue and epilogue) at its entry and exit or to any other automated or manual software process whereby a computer is cleaned up after usage (e.g. freeing resources such as virtual memory). This might include such activities as removing or archiving logs that the system has made as a result of the users activities, or deletion of temporary files which may otherwise simply take up space. Housekeeping can be described as a necessary chore, required to perform a particular computer's normal activity but not necessarily part of the algorithm."Housekeeping" , ComputerHope.Com. Accessed July 20, 2009 For cleaning up computer disk storage, utility software usually exists for this purpose such as data compression software - to "shrink" files and release disk space and defragmentation programs - to improve disk performance."Basic Computer Housekeeping Tips" . Accessed July 20, 2009
Examples Housekeeping could include (but is not limited to) the following activities: Saving and restoring program state for called functions (including general purpose registers and return address) Obtaining local memory on the stack Initializing local variables at the start of a program or function Freeing local memory on the stack on exit from a function Garbage collection Data conversion Backup and/or removal of un-needed files and software Execution of disk maintenance utilities (e.g. ScanDisk, hard drive defragmenters, virus scanners)
See also Computational overhead
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