Nice. Next ver of FF prevents plugins from taking down the browser.

[Nothinman]

You must not be a "heavy browser". After a week of using FF and leaving it open all that time, my memory usage goes up to 1.5GB or more. I've had FF die once I hit about 1.8+GB of VM.

What is the cutoff for a "heavy browser"? 10 tabs, 20 tabs, 30 tabs?

Edit: The RAM leakage isn't the worst part of it. That's the GDI handle leakage. By default, under XP, processes are limited to ~10000 GDI handles. Eventually, FF consumes all of those, and it starts displaying funny. I can sometimes close a page or two to get back enough to display the widgets properly, but eventually it dies.
IE does the same thing though, after leaving it open for a week.

If I bump up the per-process limit on GDI handles to something higher, I run into the system-wide limit of 16000, and Windows itself starts getting VERY screwy once I hit something close to that. Widgets all redraw, located at the upper-left of the screen, clip regions stop existing, etc.

Once again, I leave IE and FF open for weeks at a time and don't have that issue.

Who leaved their browser open for a week straight? I keep my PC on 24/7 and brows the web ALL the time and I don't keep it open more than a day or more.

This guy. I pretty much never shut anything down that I use regularly. Sadly, I don't know of a way to reliably tell when a process was started but if the lock file in ~/.config/google-chrome is accurate enough I've had this "instance" of Chrome running on my work Linux box since 3/25.

 

[pcslookout]

Nothinman I would do the same thing never closing any of my programs or games but sometimes will accidentally close it and did not realize I did.

 

[lxskllr]

I just opened Firefox this morning, and I'm at ~294mb. I'll try to remember not close it, and I'll update this thread after some real time has passed; >1 week. I generally have about 15 tabs open at all times, and currently have 18 tabs open. Here's my list of addons...

Generated: Thu Apr 15 2010 09:20:23 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; en-US; rv:1.9.2.3) Gecko/20100401 Firefox/3.6.3
Build ID: 20100401080539

Enabled Extensions: [22]
- Adblock Plus 1.1.3: http://adblockplus.org/
- DownloadHelper 4.7.2: http://www.downloadhelper.net
- DownThemAll! 1.1.9: http://downthemall.net/
- Fasterfox 2.0.0: http://fasterfox.mozdev.org/
- FireFTP 1.0.7: http://fireftp.mozdev.org
- Flagfox 4.0.4: http://flagfox.net/
- Foobar Controls 0.3.4: http://www.cusser.net
- Forecastfox 0.9.10.2: http://www.getforecastfox.com/
- Java Console 6.0.18: http://www.google.com/search?q=Firefox%20Java%20Console
- LogMeIn, Inc. Remote Access Plugin 1.0.0.586: http://www.google.com/search?q=Firefox LogMeIn, Inc. Remote Access Plugin
- Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant 0.0.0: http://www.windowsclient.net/
- Move Media Player 1.0.0.071303000006: http://www.movenetworks.com/
- MR Tech Toolkit 6.0.4: http://www.mrtech.com/extensions/
- Noia 2.0 eXtreme OPT 3.76: http://kasteo.deviantart.com/
- Personas 1.5.3: http://www.getpersonas.com/
- ReloadEvery 3.6.3: http://reloadevery.mozdev.org/
- Silvermel and Charamel XT 1.3.4: http://www.silvermel.net
- Smart Bookmarks Bar 1.4.3: http://remy.juteau.free.fr
- Stylish 1.0.8: http://userstyles.org/
- Tamper Data 11.0.1: http://tamperdata.mozdev.org
- Toolbar Buttons 0.6.0.8: http://codefisher.org/toolbar_button/
- Vacuum Places Improved 1.1: http://www.google.com/search?q=Firefox Vacuum Places Improved

Disabled Extensions: [3]
- Flashblock 1.5.13: http://flashblock.mozdev.org/
- History Submenus 2.10: http://www.google.com/search?q=Firefox History Submenus
- NoScript 1.9.9.61: http://noscript.net

Total Extensions: 25

Installed Themes: [43]
- Abstract Zune 3.0.1: http://www.virtusdesigns.com
- Aero Fox 3.6.3: http://www.virtusdesigns.com
- Aero Silver Fox Basic 3.0.2: http://www.virtusdesigns.com
- Aquatint Black 1.1.1: http://bodizzlethemes.blogspot.com
- Aquatint Black Gloss 3.0.2: http://bodizzlethemes.blogspot.com
- BlueShift 1.1.01: http://blackwensday.deviantart.com
- Charamel 1.3.4: http://www.silvermel.net
- Cold Night 2.1: http://www.m.hoerandl.com/
- DarkWaters 5.69: ultrajamz@hotmail.com
- Default: http://www.mozilla.org/
- Devious Green 0.08: http://www.google.com/search?q=Firefox Devious Green
- ELI Theme 0.5: http://www.yargon.info
- FireHawke 3D 1.6: http://www.hawke-firefox.co.nr
- GrandGreen 3.5.0 3.5.0: http://grandgreen.taboca.comm
- HalloFF 2.20090609: http://www.twistermc.com
- Halloween 3.6.1: http://edhume.googlepages.com/home
- IDS DDI 1.04: http://www.google.com/search?q=Firefox IDS DDI
- In The Dark 3.5.2: http://realityripple.com/software/xpi/itd/
- Incomplete 1.5.5: http://living-digitally.blogspot.com
- INpact Dark Orange 2.12: http://www.pcinpact.com
- INpact Light Blue 1.12: http://www.pcinpact.com
- LavaFox V1 1.1.5: http://zigboom.com/
- LavaFox V1-Blue 1.1.5: http://zigboom.com/
- Mattahan 3.5.0: http://fnuik.deviantart.com/
- MidnightFox 2.20100123: http://www.twistermc.com/blog/midnightfox-dark-firefox-theme/
- NASA Night Launch 0.6.20100314: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=547498
- Nautipolis for Firefox 1.8.58: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/123/about
- Noia 2.0 (eXtreme) 3.76: http://kasteo.deviantart.com
- Office Black 1.5.0: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/8076
- Oskar 1.0.9: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/
- PitchDark 3.5.0: http://thebankshow.com/projects/pitchdark
- Re-designe'd 3.0: http://www.google.com/search?q=Firefox Re-designe'd
- RedShift V3 3.0: http://www.shift-themes.com/
- ShadowThunder II Typhoon 1.2: http://www.fxdeveloper.co.nr
- Strata Human 1.0: http://www.google.com
- Strata RELOADED 2.3.0: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7749
- Tinseltown 2.20091201: http://www.twistermc.com/blog/tinseltown/
- Vista-aero 3.0.0.90: http://www.google.com/search?q=Firefox Vista-aero
- Walnut for Firefox 1.8.59: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/122/about
- walnut2 for Firefox 1.8.59: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10610/about
- X-Mas 1.3: http://www.browser1.de/
- X-Mas (Light) 1.1: http://www.browser1.de/
- Xmas 1.1: savaden.freeforums.org

Installed Plugins: (20)
- 2007 Microsoft Office system
- eMusic Remote Plugin
- Foxit Reader Plugin for Mozilla
- GameTap
- Google Earth Plugin
- Google Update
- Java Deployment Toolkit 6.0.180.7
- Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U18
- LogMeIn, Inc. Remote Access Components 1.0.0.586
- Move Media Player
- Mozilla Default Plug-in
- Musicnotes
- Quake Live
- QuickTime Plug-in 7.6.6
- RealPlayer Version Plugin
- RealPlayer(tm) G2 LiveConnect-Enabled Plug-In (32-bit)
- ScorchPlugin
- Shockwave Flash
- Silverlight Plug-In
- VLC Multimedia Plug-in

Edit:
minor starting changes after crash

 

[pcslookout]

Firefox was left on overnight and I have 10 tabs currently open using 115 MB of ram. It was around 140 to 145 MB earlier but went down after closing a few tabs I was finished with.

 

[McWatt]

Data instead of anecdotes:

http://dotnetperls.com/chrome-memory

For quite awhile now, FF has been the most memory efficient browser and Chrome has been, by far, the least efficient. Chrome tends to be similar between systems, though, while add-ons can skew perspectives on Firefox.

FF is the only browser with a solid add-on ecosystem, too. Yes, Chrome has had protection from add-on crashes for quite some time, but Chrome's add-ons tend not to be relevant. It has, for instance, no real ad blocking - the mislabeled add-ons that claim to block ads in Chrome fully load them and then hide them. This way Google ensures that they can collect full analytics and maintain their revenue stream, and you ensure that you're still vulnerable to ad-based malware served through things like Flash, which has cross-browser and even cross-operating system vulnerabilities.

 

[Nothinman]

Data instead of anecdotes:

http://dotnetperls.com/chrome-memory

For quite awhile now, FF has been the most memory efficient browser and Chrome has been, by far, the least efficient. Chrome tends to be similar between systems, though, while add-ons can skew perspectives on Firefox.

FF is the only browser with a solid add-on ecosystem, too. Yes, Chrome has had protection from add-on crashes for quite some time, but Chrome's add-ons tend not to be relevant. It has, for instance, no real ad blocking - the mislabeled add-ons that claim to block ads in Chrome fully load them and then hide them. This way Google ensures that they can collect full analytics and maintain their revenue stream, and you ensure that you're still vulnerable to ad-based malware served through things like Flash, which has cross-browser and even cross-operating system vulnerabilities.

Those Chrome numbers are undoubtedly skewed because each tab gets it's own process so unless their tool can determine which pages are shared between all of them it's pretty much worthless.

 

[pcslookout]

Those Chrome numbers are undoubtedly skewed because each tab gets it's own process so unless their tool can determine which pages are shared between all of them it's pretty much worthless.

Plus the browser versions are outdated. They need to test the latest ones.

 

[Nothinman]

Plus the browser versions are outdated. They need to test the latest ones.

True, but if their memory accounting methodology is wrong (and I'm willing to bet that it is) the version of browsers being tested is irrelevant.

 

[pcslookout]

What is the cutoff for a "heavy browser"? 10 tabs, 20 tabs, 30 tabs?



Once again, I leave IE and FF open for weeks at a time and don't have that issue.



This guy. I pretty much never shut anything down that I use regularly. Sadly, I don't know of a way to reliably tell when a process was started but if the lock file in ~/.config/google-chrome is accurate enough I've had this "instance" of Chrome running on my work Linux box since 3/25.

Is there anyway to have a little window or popup come up each time in Windows 7 where it asks you are you sure you want to close this ? I like to close things by habit.

 

[lxskllr]

Is there anyway to have a little window or popup come up each time in Windows 7 where it asks you are you sure you want to close this ? I like to close things by habit.

For Firefox? Go into options, and check off "warn me when closing multiple tabs". As long as you have more than 1 tab open, that should work.

 

[pcslookout]

For Firefox? Go into options, and check off "warn me when closing multiple tabs". As long as you have more than 1 tab open, that should work.

Nope all applications. I guess more what I want is a way to lock applications. Like you can with firefox tabs. It forces the tab it always be open no matter what. Even if you try to close it.

 

[Nothinman]

Nope all applications. I guess more what I want is a way to lock applications. Like you can with firefox tabs. It forces the tab it always be open no matter what. Even if you try to close it.

No, because when you click that X Windows just sends the app a signal and it's up to that app to handle your click however it wants. That's how some apps minimize, some prompt to exit, some just hide the parent window, etc.

 

[pcslookout]

No, because when you click that X Windows just sends the app a signal and it's up to that app to handle your click however it wants. That's how some apps minimize, some prompt to exit, some just hide the parent window, etc.

Ok thanks guess I will have to break the habit of wanting to close everything I am not using at the moment. Have 8 GB of ram why not make use of it you know.

No one should have to close anything with that much ram.

 

[Nothinman]

Ok thanks guess I will have to break the habit of wanting to close everything I am not using at the moment. Have 8 GB of ram why not make use of it you know.

No one should have to close anything with that much ram.

I've only got 2G in pretty much all of my machines and I still virtually never see a reason to close anything.

 

[pcslookout]

I've only got 2G in pretty much all of my machines and I still virtually never see a reason to close anything.

Yeah as long as your not a gamer or use photoshop 2 GB is plenty. I am talking about leaving my most played games open and all applications. Thankfully I don't use photoshop but even with 8 GB I should it would be doable. Keeping one game, photoshop and all other applications (like firefox) open 24/7.

 

[lxskllr]

CRASH!

:^D

My little experiment was stopped early. I came back to the computer to find a crash dialog from Firefox. I suspect it was Flash from the 60 Minutes site which I left open. Strange in any case. I could probably count the crashes I've had with Firefox on 1 hand, and I've been using it since V0.7. I'll try it again, and update my starting information in my previous post.

 

[pcslookout]

CRASH!

:^D

My little experiment was stopped early. I came back to the computer to find a crash dialog from Firefox. I suspect it was Flash from the 60 Minutes site which I left open. Strange in any case. I could probably count the crashes I've had with Firefox on 1 hand, and I've been using it since V0.7. I'll try it again, and update my starting information in my previous post.

lol I knew that was coming. Had the same thing happen plenty of times. It is easy to get Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome to use well over 500 MB of ram in just a few minutes. Mine use to crash at 1.5 GB of ram usage. Like I always said before I don't have a problem with firefox using all this ram sense I have 8 GB of ram. What I do have a problem with is with it getting a lot slower as it uses more ram. Haven't had this problem for a while now though because I fixed it. It been going on a year now. Finally found the solution thankfully.

 

[lxskllr]

lol I knew that was coming. Had the same thing happen plenty of times. It is easy to get Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome to use well over 500 MB of ram in just a few minutes. Mine use to crash at 1.5 GB of ram usage. Like I always said before I don't have a problem with firefox using all this ram sense I have 8 GB of ram. What I do have a problem with is with it getting a lot slower as it uses more ram. Haven't had this problem for a while now though because I fixed it. It been going on a year now. Finally found the solution thankfully.

I don't really get crashes or unusual resource use typically. I always leave my browser open for a day or 2 at a time without issue. I don't typically leave Flash heavy sites open in a tab though. I generally view what I came to see, and close it. That's why I suspect 60 Minutes. I'll try 1 more time. If it crashes again, I'm not gonna worry about my experiment. I will be a little concerned about the crashes though.

 

[pcslookout]

I don't really get crashes or unusual resource use typically. I always leave my browser open for a day or 2 at a time without issue. I don't typically leave Flash heavy sites open in a tab though. I generally view what I came to see, and close it. That's why I suspect 60 Minutes. I'll try 1 more time. If it crashes again, I'm not gonna worry about my experiment. I will be a little concerned about the crashes though.

So what happen the second time?

 

[lxskllr]

So what happen the second time?

It's still running. I closed the 60 Minutes tab, and it's been running since my post yesterday. I'm not on that machine currently so I can't give stats. I'm currently running Firefox on my Ubuntu box, and it's probably been up for over a week now. I figured that one wouldn't be as interesting, as I don't have nearly as many addons, or tabs running.

Edit:
449mb with 16 tabs open. No memory leak yet....