LifetimeTracker is a memory leak detection tool for iOS that surfaces retain cycles during development rather than requiring manual investigation with Instruments or the Memory Graph Debugger.
The tool addresses the problem that developers often forget to check for memory issues after completing feature implementation, and when they do use standard debugging tools sporadically, the investigation becomes time-consuming. LifetimeTracker works by tracking the lifetime of objects you designate as key actors in your application, such as ViewModels or Controllers. Unlike tools that rely on Objective-C runtime introspection, it uses explicit tracking that works equally well with pure Swift classes and Objective-C code. When tracked objects exceed a configured maximum count, the tool immediately surfaces a notification on screen, making issues visible as they occur.
Developers should adopt this tool if they want continuous, passive memory leak detection integrated into their development workflow without the overhead of manual debugging sessions. It suits projects where you can identify and annotate key actors that should have bounded lifetimes. The tool offers two visual styles: an overlay bar that displays detailed issue lists directly on screen, or a circular indicator that shows issue counts and opens details in a modal. It integrates with Danger for pull request automation, allowing teams to enforce that developers verify no retain cycles were introduced and that tracking calls were not forgotten.
Development activity shows consistent maintenance with regular updates addressing issues and adding refinements. The project demonstrates responsiveness to user-reported problems and incorporates community feedback into improvements. Work includes both core functionality enhancements and developer experience features like the Danger integration and configuration options for controlling dashboard visibility.
