Why does the skill emphasize multiple heap dumps?

A single dump only shows a snapshot of memory at one point in time; comparing multiple dumps is essential to establish a trend and prove that memory is actually leaking rather than just being temporarily occupied.

How does this skill help identify memory leaks?

It provides a systematic 7-step process including baseline establishment, heap dump analysis, and tracing retention paths back to GC roots to find the specific code maintaining unnecessary references.

Which languages and platforms are supported?

The skill is grounded in cross-platform patterns applicable to any garbage-collected language, with specific guidance for Java, Node.js, and browser-based JavaScript.

Can Claude actually fix the leak for me?

Yes, once the retention path and culprit code are identified, Claude can use this skill to suggest and implement the necessary code changes, such as removing references or ensuring proper cleanup in listener subscriptions.

Memory Leak Detection

Name: Memory Leak Detection
Author: sethdford

bysethdford

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Analytics & Monitoring

Identifies and resolves application memory leaks by performing systematic heap dump analysis and reference tracing.

This skill provides a structured framework for diagnosing performance degradation caused by memory leaks across various environments like Java, JavaScript, and Node.js. It guides Claude through a rigorous process of establishing memory baselines, capturing heap snapshots at peak usage, and tracing retention paths back to Garbage Collection (GC) roots. By applying industry-standard patterns and avoiding common pitfalls like misattributing issues to the garbage collector or overlooking global state, it helps developers pinpoint exactly which references are preventing memory from being reclaimed, ensuring long-term application stability.

Key Features

01Identification of common leak sources like listener subscriptions and caches

02Memory baseline establishment to distinguish leaks from normal usage

035 GitHub stars

04Retention path tracing to identify specific GC roots

05Systematic heap dump snapshot analysis and interpretation

06Guidance for platform-specific tools including jmap, Chrome DevTools, and clinic.js

Use Cases

01Profiling frontend applications to resolve memory-intensive browser tab crashes

02Identifying slow memory growth in long-running Node.js or Java backend services

03Debugging production applications experiencing Out of Memory (OOM) errors

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add sethdford/claude-skills memory-leak-detection

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Key Features

01Identification of common leak sources like listener subscriptions and caches

02Memory baseline establishment to distinguish leaks from normal usage

035 GitHub stars

04Retention path tracing to identify specific GC roots

05Systematic heap dump snapshot analysis and interpretation

06Guidance for platform-specific tools including jmap, Chrome DevTools, and clinic.js

Use Cases

01Profiling frontend applications to resolve memory-intensive browser tab crashes

02Identifying slow memory growth in long-running Node.js or Java backend services

03Debugging production applications experiencing Out of Memory (OOM) errors

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add sethdford/claude-skills memory-leak-detection

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT