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+Buffers and Memory Management
+=============================
+
+In a post-Fission world, precise memory management across many threads and processes is
+especially important. In order for the profiler to achieve this, it uses a chunked buffer
+strategy.
+
+The `ProfileBuffer`_ is the overall buffer class that controls the memory and storage
+for the profile, it allows allocating objects into it. This can be used freely
+by things like markers and samples to store data as entries, without needing to know
+about the general strategy for how the memory is managed.
+
+The `ProfileBuffer`_ is then backed by the `ProfileChunkedBuffer`_. This specialized
+buffer grows incrementally, by allocating additional `ProfileBufferChunk`_ objects.
+More and more chunks will be allocated until a memory limit is reached, where they will
+be released. After releasing, the chunk will either be recycled or freed.
+
+The limiting of memory usage is coordinated by the `ProfilerParent`_ in the parent
+process. The `ProfilerParent`_ and `ProfilerChild`_ exchange IPC messages with information
+about how much memory is being used. When the maximum byte threshold is passed,
+the ProfileChunkManager in the parent process removes the oldest chunk, and then the
+`ProfilerParent`_ sends a `DestroyReleasedChunksAtOrBefore`_ message to all of child
+processes so that the oldest chunks in the profile are released. This helps long profiles
+to keep having data in a similar time frame.
+
+Profile Buffer Terminology
+##########################
+
+ProfilerParent
+ The main profiler machinery is installed in the parent process. It uses IPC to
+ communicate to the child processes. The PProfiler is the actor which is used
+ to communicate across processes to coordinate things. See `ProfilerParent.h`_. The
+ ProfilerParent uses the DestroyReleasedChunksAtOrBefore meessage to control the
+ overall chunk limit.
+
+ProfilerChild
+ ProfilerChild is installed in every child process, it will receive requests from
+ DestroyReleasedChunksAtOrBefore.
+
+Entry
+ This is an individual entry in the `ProfileBuffer.h`_,. These entry sizes are not
+ related to the chunks sizes. An individual entry can straddle two different chunks.
+ An entry can contain various pieces of data, like markers, samples, and stacks.
+
+Chunk
+ An arbitrary sized chunk of memory, managed by the `ProfileChunkedBuffer`_, and
+ IPC calls from the ProfilerParent.
+
+Unreleased Chunk
+ This chunk is currently being used to write entries into.
+
+Released chunk
+ This chunk is full of data. When memory limits happen, it can either be recycled
+ or freed.
+
+Recycled chunk
+ This is a chunk that was previously written into, and full. When memory limits occur,
+ rather than freeing the memory, it is re-used as the next chunk.
+
+.. _ProfileChunkedBuffer: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/search?q=ProfileChunkedBuffer&path=&case=true&regexp=false
+.. _ProfileChunkManager: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/search?q=ProfileBufferChunkManager.h&path=&case=true&regexp=false
+.. _ProfileBufferChunk: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/search?q=ProfileBufferChunk&path=&case=true&regexp=false
+.. _ProfileBufferChunkManagerWithLocalLimit: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/search?q=ProfileBufferChunkManagerWithLocalLimit&case=true&path=
+.. _ProfilerParent.h: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/tools/profiler/public/ProfilerParent.h
+.. _ProfilerChild.h: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/tools/profiler/public/ProfilerChild.h
+.. _ProfileBuffer.h: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/tools/profiler/core/ProfileBuffer.h
+.. _ProfileBuffer: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/search?q=ProfileBuffer&path=&case=true&regexp=false
+.. _ProfilerParent: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/search?q=ProfilerParent&path=&case=true&regexp=false
+.. _ProfilerChild: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/search?q=ProfilerChild&path=&case=true&regexp=false
+.. _DestroyReleasedChunksAtOrBefore: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/search?q=DestroyReleasedChunksAtOrBefore&path=&case=true&regexp=false