Strategies for detecting and fixing enterprise memory leaks

Summary
Because Java uses automatic garbage collection, developers think Java programs are free from possible memory leaks. Although automatic garbage collection solves the main cause of memory leaks, they can remain in a Java program. Specifically, such memory leaks in complex multitiered applications can be extremely daunting to detect and plug. This article analyzes the main causes of memory leaks in Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) applications, and suggests strategies for detecting them. (3,200 words; March 13, 2006)