Where did this core file come from?

[hop-frog]

I keep finding core files left in my home directory. How do I find out which program is leaving these behind?

[Icarus]

A "core" file is a snapshot of a process' memory state just prior to its abnormal termination by the system. It's an image of the program's "core" which is an old term for RAM dating back to a time when computers actually used little ferrite "donuts" suspended in a wire mesh for their memory and storage. These can be used by programmers for post-mortem analysis, clues as to what caused the failure.

core files can be generated any time one of your programs crash for just about any reason. Most of us mortals just delete the things. You can delete these beasts

The trick is finding where they came from...
They usually dump into the directory that the app is running from, this being your home directory...your running an app that keeps crashing and is probally respawning only to crash again.

[hlrguy]

in the directory where the core is, enter
file core
it should list the program that caused the core.

hlrguy

[rid3r]

a line, which looks something like ulimit -c unlimited in either .bashrc .bash_profile or /etc/profile is causing the core files appearing in your home directory.
Comment it out to get rid of them alltogether.

[Vador8088]

It's an image of the program's "core" which is an old term for RAM dating back to a time when computers actually used little ferrite "donuts" suspended in a wire mesh for their memory and storage.

I own a few core memory boards, I collect vintage computer equiment you can find core memory off Ebay under "Vintage Computers".

Belive it or not Core memory is fairly collectable thease days. A large section can sell for a few hundered dollars at least. Of course thats no where near the price it cost back in the day. Most core memory boards were sown by hand!