>>>>> "S" == Stefan Scholl <stesch / no-spoon.de> writes: S> VALUE foo = rb_str_new2("bar"); S> .... S> Some steps later ... How do I know that the mark/sweep garbage S> collector hasn't removed my new object? The object is on the stack, it will be marked by the GC . see [ruby-talk:62371] http://www.ruby-talk.org/62371 Guy Decoux