Which iPhone OS memory management rules and how-to's do you know?

Question

Currently I am jumping into the ice cold water called \"memory management in iPhone OS\".

Here\'s one rule i\'ve learned:

Every time I see an alloc in my method,

Answer 1

The rules I use

• Release all objects you create using a method whose name begins "alloc" or "new" or contains "copy".

• Release all objects you retain.

• Do not release objects created using a +className convenience constructor. (The class creates it and is responsible for releasing it.)

• Do not release objects you receive in other ways E.g. mySprockets = [widget sprockets];

• If you store an object you receive in an instance variable, retain it or copy it. (Unless it's a weak reference - just a pointer to another object, usually to avoid cyclical references.)

• Received objects are valid within the method they are received in (generally) and are also valid if passed back to the invoker.

Some good links:

1. http://www.gehacktes.net/2009/02/iphone-programming-part-2-objective-c-memory-management/
2. http://mauvilasoftware.com/iphone_software_development/2008/01/iphone-memory-management-a-bri.html