points by mac3n 4 days ago | 0 comments
isn't `arena` just a typo for `area`?
[–] ajasmin 3 days ago
[–] cowlevel 3 days ago
I'd propose "colosseum" for a really big arena such as one used by a compacting GC, and "skyrim" for a scrollback buffer (holds elderly scroll-text), but they'd never catch on.
[–] mac3n 2 days ago
I remember these as `AREA` variables in PL/I, back in the day. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Region-based_memory_management...> implies the term AREA was introduced in 1990.
The article claims the term first appear in V6 Unix though I couldn't tell you why it's called that.
It does help prevent confusion, though, a memory "arena" and a memory "area" don't both mean the same thing.