Memory Analyzer App | Python Assignment

You will build a Python CLI that profiles process memory with psutil and ranks in-process allocations with tracemalloc. By the end you will produce a report that pinpoints the top memory consumers.

Learning Objectives

Read process RSS and system memory with psutil.
Rank allocation sites with tracemalloc.
Emit a structured report and test it.
Time: ~8 hours · Difficulty: Intermediate · Prereqs: Python fundamentals.

Architecture Overview

graph LR CLI[argparse CLI] --> Sys[psutil: RSS / system] CLI --> Trace[tracemalloc: top allocators] Sys --> Rep[Report] Trace --> Rep

Environment Setup

Python 3.11 venv with psutil and pytest.
A sample workload to profile.

Step-by-Step Execution

Capture process and system memory

import psutil, os
rss = psutil.Process(os.getpid()).memory_info().rss
sysmem = psutil.virtual_memory().percent

Rank allocators with tracemalloc

python -m memanalyzer profile --top 5 ./workload.py

Run the tests

$ pytest -q

..... 5 passed in 0.07s

Progress So Far

graph LR A[01 Capture] -->|done| B[02 Rank] B -->|done| C[03 Tests] style A fill:#1a4a1a,stroke:#00ff00,color:#fff style B fill:#1a4a1a,stroke:#00ff00,color:#fff style C fill:#1a4a1a,stroke:#00ff00,color:#fff

Testing & Validation

python -m memanalyzer profile --top 5 ./workload.py && pytest -q

The report should list the top 5 allocation sites and tests should pass. If so, the analyzer correctly identifies memory hotspots.

Troubleshooting

tracemalloc empty: start it before the workload runs.
RSS looks high after frees: the allocator may retain memory; trust tracemalloc deltas.
Import errors: run with python -m for package resolution.

Extension Ideas

Add JSON output for ingestion by dashboards.
Compare with the lab in Memory Usage Analyzer.
Schedule it via systemd timers.

Key Results

Profiled process and system memory accurately.
Ranked the top 5 allocation sites with tracemalloc.
Produced a structured, testable report.
Backed the logic with a passing pytest suite.

Memory Analyzer CLI Application in Python