How to Solve OutOfMemoryError: reason stack_trace_with_native_method

There are 9 types of java.lang.OutOfMemoryError, each signaling a unique memory-related issue within Java applications. Among these, ‘java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: reason stack_trace_with_native_method’ is a rare type of error & seldom it occurs. In this post, we’ll delve into the root causes behind this error, explore potential solutions, and discuss effective diagnostic methods to troubleshoot this problem. Let’s equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools to conquer this common adversary.

Here’s a video summary of the article:

JVM Memory Regions

To better understand OutOfMemoryError, we first need to understand different JVM Memory regions. Here is a video clip that gives a good introduction about different JVM memory regions. But in nutshell, JVM has following memory regions:

1. Young Generation: Newly created application objects are stored in this region.
2. Old Generation: Application objects that are living for longer duration are promoted from the Young Generation to the Old Generation. Basically, this region holds long-lived objects.
3. Metaspace: Class definitions, method definitions and other metadata that are required to execute your program are stored in the Metaspace region. This region was added in Java 8. Before that metadata definitions were stored in the PermGen. Since Java 8, PermGen was replaced by Metaspace.
4. Threads: Each application thread requires a thread stack. Space allocated for thread stacks, which contain method call information and local variables are stored in this region.
5. Code Cache: Memory areas where compiled native code (machine code) of methods is stored for efficient execution are stored in this region.
6. Direct Buffer: ByteBuffer objects are used by modern framework (i.e. Spring WebClient) for efficient I/O operations. They are stored in this region.
7. GC (Garbage Collection): Memory required for automatic garbage collection to work is stored in this region.?
8. JNI (Java Native Interface): Memory for interacting with native libraries and code written in other languages are stored in this region.
9. misc: There are areas specific to certain JVM implementations or configurations, such as the internal JVM structures or reserved memory spaces, they are classified as ‘misc’ regions.

What is ‘java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: reason stack_trace_with_native_method’?

‘OutOfMemoryError: stack_trace_with_native_error_method’ happens when the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) encounters a situation where it’s unable to allocate sufficient memory for the execution stack of a thread containing native method invocations.

NOTE: ‘java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: stack_trace_with_native_error_method’ occurs only if your application is using JNI (Java Native Interface) and connecting the native applications. Most applications don’t use JNI.

What causes ‘java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: reason stack_trace_with_native_method’?

The root cause of ‘java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: reason stack_trace_with_native_method’ is often related to following reasons:

1. Heavy Usage of Native Methods: Native methods are functions implemented in languages other than Java, such as C or C++. Excessive usage of native methods can lead to increased memory consumption and stack overflow issues.
2. Recursive Native Method Calls: Recursive calls to native methods can result in a rapidly growing call stack, eventually exhausting the available stack memory allocated to the thread.

Solutions for ‘OutOfMemoryError: reason stack_trace_with_native_method’

Following are the potential solutions to fix this error:

1. Analyze Stack Traces: Examine the stack traces provided in the error logs to identify the sequence of native method invocations leading to the error. This can help pinpoint the source of the problem and guide troubleshooting efforts.
2. OS native tools: You might need to use following Operative System native tools to diagnose the issue: a) DTrace: A powerful dynamic tracing framework available on certain Unix-like operating systems (e.g., macOS, FreeBSD). DTrace allows you to observe system behavior in real-time, making it useful for analyzing performance and diagnosing memory issues. b) pmap: This command-line utility provides detailed information about the memory mappings of a process, including memory usage and allocation. By examining the memory map of a Java process, you can identify memory-intensive areas and potential memory leaks. c) pstack: Used for printing the call stack of a running process, pstack can help identify the sequence of function calls leading to stack overflow errors caused by recursive native method invocations. Analyzing the call stack can reveal patterns or bottlenecks that contribute to memory exhaustion.

For more information about tools, see Native Operating System Tools.

Conclusion

In this post, we’ve covered a range of topics, from understanding JVM memory regions to diagnosing and resolving ‘java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: reason stack_trace_with_native_method’. We hope you’ve found the information useful and insightful. But our conversation doesn’t end here. Your experiences and insights are invaluable to us and to your fellow readers. We encourage you to share your encounters with ‘java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: reason stack_trace_with_native_method’ in the comments below. Whether it’s a unique solution you’ve discovered, a best practice you swear by, or even just a personal anecdote, your contributions can enrich the learning experience for everyone.