[erlang-questions] Code vs. binary heap storage

[Jay Nelson]

Given the following code:

return_bin(pinocchio) ->  <<"Once upon a time... ">>;
return_bin(cinderella) -> <<"In a castle long ago...">>;
return_bin(star_wars) -> <<"In a galaxy far, far way...">>.

Assume each of the binaries is of some significant size > 32 bytes.


If the module containing this function is code-loaded into a node, I  
want to verify whether the following are true:

1) The binary only exists once regardless of how many processes or  
modules access the functions.
2) The binary for each branch of the function is stored in the binary  
heap.
3) The function return is a pointer to the existing binary heap element.
4) The memory footprint of a process which can call these functions  
does not include the size of the binaries, even if the functions are  
called and a process variable is bound to the value.
5) These binaries can never be garbage collected unless the module  
containing the functions is unloaded (and all other references  
obtained by calling the functions are released).
6) Having a process per binary and a process to route requests would  
not be more or less memory efficient than having a single process  
with the above function in place of the routing process.

jay