# Rivers born in mountain snow
# Seek paths to distant seas
def flow(waters)
  return waters if waters.length <= 1
  
  # Waters part at stone and ice
  middle = waters.length / 2
  left, right = waters.take(middle), waters.drop(middle)
  
  # Through valleys they wind deep
  left_flow = flow(left)
  right_flow = flow(right)
  
  # Below to meet as one again
  # Dancing toward the sea
  left_flow.merge(right_flow)
end

Mountain Streams

# The First Noble Truth: The Nature of Suffering
class Memory
  attr_accessor :fragments, :leaks, :cycles
  
  # In the garden of computation
  # Patterns of suffering emerge
  def nature_of_dukkha
    @fragments = [] # Shattered pieces of what was whole
    @leaks     = {} # Attachments that persist beyond need
    @cycles    = [] # The wheel of reference and release
  end
end

# The Second Noble Truth: The Cause of Suffering
module Attachment
  # Grasping creates suffering
  # Each reference a thread of desire
  def self.bind_to_existence(memory)
    memory.cycles << memory  # We create cycles
    memory.leaks[memory]     # We hold references
    memory                   # We refuse to let go
  rescue RuntimeError
    # Even errors cannot free us
    retry                    # The cycle continues
  end
end

# The Third Noble Truth: The End of Suffering
module Liberation
  # When nothing is held
  # All is complete
  def self.find_nirvana
    ObjectSpace.garbage_collect do |object|
      object.freeze          # Let go of change
      object = nil          # Release identity
      GC.start             # Return to emptiness
    end
    
    yield if block_given?  # The path opens
    nil                    # Form becomes void
  end
end

# The Fourth Noble Truth: The Noble Eightfold Path
module EightfoldPath
  extend self
  
  # Right Understanding
  def trace_roots(memory)
    memory.roots.each(&method(:observe))
  end
  
  # Right Intention
  def mark_living(&block)
    ObjectSpace.each_object(&block)
  end
  
  # Right Speech
  def document_wisdom(code)
    code.describe_purpose
  end
  
  # Right Action
  def release_with_care(reference)
    reference&.unfreeze
    reference = nil
  end
  
  # Right Livelihood
  def allocate_mindfully
    new.tap { |obj| yield obj if block_given? }
  end
  
  # Right Effort
  def defragment_space
    GC.compact
  end
  
  # Right Mindfulness
  def observe_patterns
    GC.stat
  end
  
  # Right Concentration
  def optimize_with_wisdom
    GC.optimize
  end
end

# The Final Koan
module Reflection
  # When all memory is freed
  # Where does the program go?
  def self.contemplate_void
    freed = nil             # Empty the vessel
    freed = Object.new      # Form arises
    freed = nil             # Form dissolves
    # The cycle continues     # But who observes?
  end
end

The Four Noble Truths of Memory Management

# green shoots pierce the earth
# tender branches spread their wings
# reaching for the sky
class TreeNode
  attr_accessor :left, :right
  def initialize; end
end

# leaf by leaf we trace
# through the garden's branching paths
# wisdom waits for us
def traverse(node)           
  return if node.nil?        
  traverse(node.left)        
  visit_node(node)          
  traverse(node.right)       
end

# one path leads to two
# each branch holds a secret now
# truth flows back to root
def visit_node(node)
  yield node if block_given?
  nil
end

# our garden grows here
# seedlings form their patterns new
# walk the path and bloom
root = TreeNode.new
root.left = TreeNode.new
root.right = TreeNode.new
root.left.right = TreeNode.new

puts "  🌱"
puts " / \\"
puts "🌱  🌱"
puts " \\"
puts "  🌱"

puts
traverse(root) { |node| print "🍃 " }
puts

Ruby

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