Chrome Helper out of control!

[Insectoid]

Long story short, I was on my macbook pro today when it stopped working right. After much investigation I discovered that somehow my computer had reached the maximum number of processes. Because of this I was unable to launch a terminal session to check what was hogging all my processes! I did eventually manage (quitting an app and launching a terminal session right away afterwards) and found the culprit to be none other than the Google Chrome helper! There were hundreds of chrome helper processes that were doing nothing. My CPU was only at around 5% usage.

Anyone know what could cause this? I really don't want it to happen again. I'm on OS X 10.6.8.

[DemonWasp]

You could try this: http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=200311151254441 or this: http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20050709233920660

I'm not sure why OSX ships with such a low process-per-user limit, but there are ways to increase it.

[Insectoid]

Why would I want to increase it? Those processes shouldn't have existed at all. I've never reached the cap before.

[DemonWasp]

Because if the limit is only 100 (OSX default), it doesn't take very long to hit that limit, even with reasonable use. Chrome, for example, will easily launch 30 processes. Add in another few for SSH clients, development environments, desktop environment processes, etc...you could hit 100 pretty easily. For example, my Windows 7 desktop is sitting at 87 processes with only Firefox, Chrome and some background programs (Skype, Steam, ...).

If you want to reduce the number of processes Chrome spawns, you may be out of luck; I couldn't find anything on Google in 5 minutes.

[ProgrammingFun]

DemonWasp @ Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:37 pm wrote:

Because if the limit is only 100 (OSX default), it doesn't take very long to hit that limit, even with reasonable use. Chrome, for example, will easily launch 30 processes. Add in another few for SSH clients, development environments, desktop environment processes, etc...you could hit 100 pretty easily. For example, my Windows 7 desktop is sitting at 87 processes with only Firefox, Chrome and some background programs (Skype, Steam, ...).

If you want to reduce the number of processes Chrome spawns, you may be out of luck; I couldn't find anything on Google in 5 minutes.

Same here...Chrome is running 12 processes to keep only CompSci.ca open. Total processes for me right now are 92 with some background programs (not a lot).

You could try the steps given here to fix the problem on the Chrome end as opposed to raising the OSX limit.
Here is another official description from Chromium (I didn't read it so idk if it also posts solutions).

[Insectoid]

That wasn't the issue. I had no tabs open. Only a single helper process and the application process should have been there. I have like, 30 processes total with iTunes + 2 tabs in Chrome + IRC + IM. I've never had this issue before.

This is the kind of thing I was talking about: http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=32004

Now, raising the process limit wouldn't have helped. This is like trying to fix the economy by raising the debt ceiling. All that would do, is allow Chrome to spawn more processes. There is no reason to have 60-70 processes when Chrome has no tabs open.

I do appreciate the effort though DemonWasp.

[ProgrammingFun]

Insectoid @ Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:57 pm wrote:

Now, raising the process limit wouldn't have helped. This is like trying to fix the economy by raising the debt ceiling. All that would do, is allow Chrome to spawn more processes. There is no reason to have 60-70 processes when Chrome has no tabs open.

Sounds like some country I happen to know ...

[Insectoid]

Haha, yeah ProgrammingFun. Exactly like that. Didn't work well did it, though?

And ProgrammingFun- if you want to talk on IRC you need to stick around longer than a minute. I'm always in there as Soup.

[ProgrammingFun]

Insectoid @ Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:05 pm wrote:

And ProgrammingFun- if you want to talk on IRC you need to stick around longer than a minute. I'm always in there as Soup.

I always go onto IRC to check reaction times
...seriously though, it feels...so...empty there with no-one talking...

Anyways, I'll try again

[chrisbrown]

@Insectoid: If you haven't already, take a look at Chrome's internal task manager (Cmd + Opt + Esc). It seems that each enabled plugin gets its own process as well.

[Insectoid]

Quote:

Cmd + Opt + Esc

are you aware that this is an OS shortcut to open the force-quit menu?

@ProgrammingFun- I was in a full-screen app when you were in IRC, so I didn't get the notification that you were there. You kinda have to lurk. Conversation is sporadic. Mostly just me, timmy (timmytheturtle) and rdrake. Sometimes Dan or Bigbear too.

[chrisbrown]

Ugh that's what I get for skimming instead of reading. I got that from Mun_Jocko's comment here.

I only saw the Shift + Esc (the Windows shortcut), and assumed he knew what he was talking about. Sorry about that.

Anyway try Menu button > Tools > Task Manager.
In case I'm wrong again, I'm sure you can figure out how to get there on your own.

[ultimatebuster]

Insectoid @ Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:16 pm wrote:

I was on my macbook pro today.

Well there's your problem.

[Insectoid]

ultimatebuster @ Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:25 am wrote:

Insectoid @ Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:16 pm wrote:

I was on my macbook pro today.

Well there's your problem.

That's quite unnecessary.

[ultimatebuster]

Insectoid @ Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:58 am wrote:

ultimatebuster @ Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:25 am wrote:

Insectoid @ Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:16 pm wrote:

I was on my macbook pro today.

Well there's your problem.

That's quite unnecessary.

Well. I'm just pointing out the problem of a system when I see one.