Why do I receive "java.lang​.OutOfMemo​ryError: GC overhead limit exceeded" errors which freeze my MATLAB session on my Unix system?

I receive the following error messages when I start MATLAB on Linux, and MATLAB becomes unresponsive after this message displays

Exception in thread "qtp2146088296-82" java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: GC overhead limit exceeded

at java.util.HashMap.newKeyIterator(Unknown Source)

at java.util.HashMap$KeySet.iterator(Unknown Source)

at java.util.HashSet.iterator(Unknown Source)

at sun.nio.ch.Util$2.iterator(Unknown Source)

at org.eclipse.jetty.io.nio.SelectorManager$SelectSet.doSelect(SelectorManager.java:600)

at org.eclipse.jetty.io.nio.SelectorManager$1.run(SelectorManager.java:290)

at org.eclipse.jetty.util.thread.QueuedThreadPool.runJob(QueuedThreadPool.java:608)

at org.eclipse.jetty.util.thread.QueuedThreadPool$3.run(QueuedThreadPool.java:543)

at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)

Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: GC overhead limit exceeded

at java.lang.String.toLowerCase(Unknown Source)

at java.lang.String.toLowerCase(Unknown Source)

at java.awt.datatransfer.MimeTypeParameterList.get(Unknown Source)

at java.awt.datatransfer.MimeType.getParameter(Unknown Source)

at java.awt.datatransfer.DataFlavor.initialize(Unknown Source)

at java.awt.datatransfer.DataFlavor.<init>(Unknown Source)

at java.awt.datatransfer.SystemFlavorMap.getFlavorsForNative(Unknown Source)

at sun.awt.datatransfer.DataTransferer.getFlavorsForFormats(Unknown Source)

at sun.awt.datatransfer.ClipboardTransferable.<init>(Unknown Source)

at sun.awt.X11.XClipboard.getContents(Unknown Source)

at com.mathworks.widgets.grouptable.transfer.Transfer.getData(Transfer.java:54)

at com.mathworks.widgets.grouptable.transfer.Transfer.getFileTransferList(Transfer.java:100)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.extensions.basic.FileTransferHandler.transferContains(FileTransferHandler.java:179)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.extensions.basic.FileTransferHandler.accept(FileTransferHandler.java:111)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.extensions.basic.FileTransferHandler.accept(FileTransferHandler.java:40)

at com.mathworks.widgets.grouptable.transfer.TransferController.canPaste(TransferController.java:104)

at com.mathworks.widgets.grouptable.GroupingTable.canPaste(GroupingTable.java:1534)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.TableActionInput.canPaste(TableActionInput.java:100)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionPredicates$9.accept(ActionPredicates.java:32)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionPredicates$9.accept(ActionPredicates.java:32)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionPredicates$33.accept(ActionPredicates.java:240)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionPredicates$33.accept(ActionPredicates.java:236)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionConfigurationImpl.isEnabled(ActionConfigurationImpl.java:284)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionConfigurationImpl.isEnabled(ActionConfigurationImpl.java:134)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionManager$4.run(ActionManager.java:356)

at com.mathworks.mwswing.MJUtilities.runOnEventDispatchThread(MJUtilities.java:911)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionManager.refreshActions(ActionManager.java:345)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionManager.access$000(ActionManager.java:50)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.model.actions.ActionManager$1.stateChanged(ActionManager.java:100)

at com.mathworks.util.MulticastChangeListener.stateChanged(MulticastChangeListener.java:25)

at com.mathworks.mlwidgets.explorer.widgets.table.FileTable$21.valueChanged(FileTable.java:817)

at com.mathworks.widgets.grouptable.GroupingTable.fireSelectionListenersIfEnabled(GroupingTable.java:591)

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

A new Source Integration Tool was introduced in R2014b, and this integrates with services such as Git / Subversion and is enabled by default.

This could potentially cause the issue.

Please try the following:

1) Disable the Source Integration Tool:

- Home Tab > Environment > Preferences

- In the preferences dialog, MATLAB > General > Source Control pane, then select None

- Close MATLAB

2) If you have a java.opts file (usually in matlabroot/bin/arch), the file should contain only the following lines:

- XX:-UseGCOverheadLimit

- Xmx1024m

3) If applicable, please unset the JAVA_OPTIONS and JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS in the ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile files