Increase in HEAP usage on 2.0.11 (framework 4.4.5)

[stuartpittaway]

Board

ESP32 DEVKITC

Device Description

DEVKITC as used in DIYBMS project https://github.com/stuartpittaway/diyBMSv4/tree/master/ControllerCircuit

Hardware Configuration

Yes, but doesn't make a difference to this issue

Version

other

IDE Name

PlatformIO

Operating System

Win 11

Flash frequency

40Mhz

PSRAM enabled

yes

Upload speed

921000

Description

After upgrading from 2.0.9 release to the 2.0.11 release, the memory heap usage has significantly increased by about 30%

There are no other changes to the code base, except for the re-compile with the new 2.0.11 release.

I've also tested with 2.0.10 and that was worse than 2.0.11 release with Min free Heap reported as 49772.

Values returned by call to ESP.getMinFreeHeap() which calls heap_caps_get_minimum_free_size(MALLOC_CAP_INTERNAL).

This appears to be caused by the change to 4.4.5 SDK and the change in total heap size (291396 to 256136)

On 2.0.9

platform_packages =
   framework-arduinoespressif32 @ https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32.git#2.0.9

RAM:   [==        ]  19.6% (used 64192 bytes from 327680 bytes)
Flash: [========= ]  90.5% (used 1601337 bytes from 1769472 bytes)

SDK Version: v4.4.4
Min free Heap: 90612
Free heap: 114728
Heap size: 291396

On 2.0.11

platform_packages =
   framework-arduinoespressif32 @ https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32.git#2.0.11

RAM:   [==        ]  19.5% (used 63812 bytes from 327680 bytes)
Flash: [========= ]  90.7% (used 1604529 bytes from 1769472 bytes)

SDK Version: v4.4.5
Min free Heap: 61776
Free heap: 78944
Heap size: 256136

Sketch

ESP.getMinFreeHeap();

Debug Message

No debug message

Other Steps to Reproduce

No response

I have checked existing issues, online documentation and the Troubleshooting Guide

• I confirm I have checked existing issues, online documentation and Troubleshooting guide.

[SuGlider]

Confirmed. Using this code:

  Serial.printf("Total Heap Size: %d\n",ESP.getHeapSize());
  Serial.printf("Available Heap: %d\n",ESP.getFreeHeap());
  Serial.printf("Lowest level of heap since boot: %d\n",ESP.getMinFreeHeap());
  Serial.printf("Largest block of heap that can be allocated at once: %d\n",ESP.getMaxAllocHeap());

All SoC results with empty sketch:

C3 with 2.0.11
Total Heap Size: 323620
Available Heap: 301508
Lowest level of heap since boot: 296528
Largest block of heap that can be allocated at once: 278516

C3 with 2.0.9
Total Heap Size: 331848
Available Heap: 309700
Lowest level of heap since boot: 304720
Largest block of heap that can be allocated at once: 286708

================================================================
ESP32 with 2.0.11
Total Heap Size: 340052
Available Heap: 314656
Lowest level of heap since boot: 311272
Largest block of heap that can be allocated at once: 110580

ESP32 with 2.0.9
Total Heap Size: 374708
Available Heap: 349208
Lowest level of heap since boot: 343664
Largest block of heap that can be allocated at once: 114676

================================================================
ESP32S2 with 2.0.11
Total Heap Size: 254052
Available Heap: 233796
Lowest level of heap since boot: 228816
Largest block of heap that can be allocated at once: 204788

ESP32S2 with 2.0.9
Total Heap Size: 252324
Available Heap: 232068
Lowest level of heap since boot: 227088
Largest block of heap that can be allocated at once: 204788

================================================================
ESP32S3 with 2.0.11
Total Heap Size: 400508
Available Heap: 375104
Lowest level of heap since boot: 369956
Largest block of heap that can be allocated at once: 335860

ESP32S3 with 2.0.9
Total Heap Size: 399832
Available Heap: 374384
Lowest level of heap since boot: 369236
Largest block of heap that can be allocated at once: 335860

[SuGlider]

@VojtechBartoska @me-no-dev --
FYI:
I have seen a number of issues related to IDF 4.4.5, including I2S and other memory problems, such as this one, that breaks sketched made with IDF 4.4.4.

The MIDI issue (#8471) is related to MIDI communication failure (not I2S or DAC) and may be related to lack of HEAP.
Issue #8467 is related to changes in IDF 4.4.5 in I2S.

It seems that we have a number of problems with IDF 4.4.5.
Would it be better to release an Arduino Core 2.0.12 with IDF 4.4.4 instead?!

[me-no-dev]

@SuGlider I found the problem. It's this: #8243

Reverting it fixes the memory issue.