Housekeeping (computing)

<h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
<p>Housekeeping could include (but is not limited to) the following activities:
</p>
<ul><li>Saving and restoring <a href="/facts/State_(computer_science)/4Yu8xXHS">program state</a> for called <a href="/facts/Subroutine/9vFJrg0A">functions</a> (including <a href="/facts/Processor_register/32RvbUdz">general purpose registers</a> and return address)</li>
<li>Obtaining local memory on the <a href="/facts/Stack_(abstract_data_type)/bj7l94v1">stack</a></li>
<li>Initializing local variables at the start of a program or function</li>
<li>Freeing local memory on the stack on exit from a function</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Garbage_collection_(computer_science)/j2vlIu7g">Garbage collection</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Data_conversion/ovcQxA3K">Data conversion</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Backup/ldV72CkU">Backup</a> and/or removal of un-needed files and <a href="/facts/Software/RP79lVSW">software</a></li>
<li>Execution of disk maintenance utilities (e.g. <a href="/facts/Microsoft_ScanDisk/X0Isfj4Y">ScanDisk</a>, hard drive defragmenters, <a href="/facts/Antivirus_software/GGMqsfkJ">virus scanners</a>)</li></ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Computational_overhead/e2jgPrHr">Computational overhead</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Housekeeping", ComputerHope.Com.  Accessed July 20, 2009 <a href="http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/housekee.htm" target="_blank">http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/housekee.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Basic Computer Housekeeping Tips" Archived 2010-08-04 at the Wayback Machine.  Accessed July 20, 2009 <a href="http://www.namastecafe.com/computer/housekeep.htm" target="_blank">http://www.namastecafe.com/computer/housekeep.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Housekeeping (computing) open-in-new

Housekeeping (computing)