Memory

Native pointers borrow or own storage according to the API that produced them. A pointer's type does not tell you who must release it. Check that contract before retaining, freeing, or passing it to another function.

Allocate and release a record

link shared "c"
extern free(pointer:u8*) -> void abi sysv-amd64
record Counter { value:i64 }
let count_once = fn () -> i64 {
    let counter = alloc(Counter)
    if !counter { return -1 }
    defer free(cast(u8*, counter))
    counter.value = 41
    counter.value += 1
    return counter.value
}
assert count_once() == 42

The local variable owns this allocation. The defer releases it when the function exits, including through the final return. Treat allocation failure before dereferencing the pointer.

Borrow or transfer ownership

Borrowing permits temporary access while the owner remains alive. Transferring ownership gives another object responsibility for cleanup; stop freeing that resource yourself after a successful transfer. Copy borrowed text if it must outlive its owner.

Each standard-library guide names the matching release operation. Use that operation rather than assuming every pointer can be passed to free.

Scope-owned resources

Use LanguageKit managed lifetimes for values or adopted resources that participate in managed ownership. A native allocation and a managed value have different cleanup contracts.