The Hidden Memory Crisis: Why Heap Size Doesn't Tell the Full CI Story

Configuring JVM heap size is insufficient for preventing OOM errors in CI environments, as the actual memory footprint includes metaspace, code cache, thread stacks, and other OS-level memory components measured as RSS. CI builds involve multiple concurrent JVM processes—Gradle daemon, Kotlin daemon, test VMs, and build tools—each with independent memory consumption that compounds system pressure. The Process Watcher tool enables data-driven memory diagnostics, transforming OOM debugging from blind troubleshooting into actionable insights about real memory behavior.