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Version: 2.1.x

Memory Leak Detection in KMP

Memory leaks in cross-platform mobile apps occur when disposed objects (such as ViewModels, UI controllers, coroutine jobs, or native platform bridges) remain strongly retained in memory by long-lived singletons, callbacks, or static references.

Appxiom provides automated post-dispose memory leak detection across Android and iOS without requiring large, disruptive heap dumps.

1. Watching ViewModels & Objects (Ax.watchLeaks)​

Watch any Kotlin object after its lifecycle has concluded:

import tech.appxiom.kmp.Ax

// Basic usage:
Ax.watchLeaks(myDisposedObject)

// With explicit diagnostic tag:
Ax.watchLeaks(target = checkoutViewModel, tag = "CheckoutViewModel")

Example: ViewModel Cleanup​

In Android / KMP ViewModels:

import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
import tech.appxiom.kmp.Ax

class UserProfileViewModel : ViewModel() {

    override fun onCleared() {
        super.onCleared()

        // Register this instance for post-disposal leak verification:
        Ax.watchLeaks(this, tag = "UserProfileViewModel")
    }
}

2. Compose Multiplatform Screens (AxWatchLeakOnDispose)​

Module: tech.appxiom:appxiom-kmp-compose

In Compose Multiplatform, use AxWatchLeakOnDispose to automatically watch state holders or view models when a Composable leaves the composition:

import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
import tech.appxiom.kmp.compose.AxWatchLeakOnDispose

@Composable
fun ProductDetailScreen(viewModel: ProductDetailViewModel) {
    // Automatically watches viewModel when ProductDetailScreen leaves composition:
    AxWatchLeakOnDispose(target = viewModel, tag = "ProductDetailViewModel")

    // Screen UI...
}

3. Investigating Leaks in the Dashboard​

When a verified memory leak occurs, Appxiom generates an issue report in your dashboard:

  • Target Object: Retained class name and assigned tag (e.g. UserProfileViewModel).
  • Retained Duration: Time elapsed between disposal and leak verification.
  • Occurrence Context: Screen breadcrumbs, active user ID, and device memory state.

Next Steps​

Learn how to record user breadcrumbs in Activity Trails & Logging.