IPhone - Instruments giving me a Headache in finding Leaks

Question

Using the same exact codebase to parse a given static XML file (patterned after seismicXml example), instruments would tell me different "memory leak" results from each execution. Sometimes, no leak, sometimes a bunch of leaks.
So what I do is, create a simple View application, and have the parseXml called immediately on the constructor of the controller. Then I just click "Build & Go" on XCode several times, and review the results on instruments (after the first automatic detection).
I'm guessing it's something stupid on my end... Any help will be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Answer 1

You should have a look at the docs - Instruments is a complicated program and the docs contain a lot of what you need to use it effectively.
It sounds like you are looking at the result of the entire life of an application. I would not recommend that.
In general the way I use Leaks is to start within the program at some initial state. Do an initial leak check, do some operation I want to examine, get back to that same initial state where you expect any allocated memory to be reclaimed, check for leaks again. I always turn off the auto check feature and use the leak check button in Leaks since I want control over when I do the check to minimize confusion.
So in your example add a button to the VC and move the code that does the parseXML there. Once the application has started, turn off auto check, check for leaks, push the parseXml button, when the operation is complete, do another leak check.
Hope that helps.