Show HN: MemViz – a modern C++ memory visualization tool

Hi HN,

I’ve been working on MemViz, a tool to help inspect and visualize memory in C++ programs. It’s aimed at developers, students, and systems engineers who want a simple way to look under the hood without firing up a heavyweight debugger.

What it does:

Inspect object layouts, padding, and alignment.

Explore vtables and runtime dispatch.

Track allocations and report possible leaks.

Hex-dump mapped memory regions (mmap / CreateFileMapping).

Uses modern C++20 features like std::bit_cast for safe reinterpretation.

Why I built it: I found existing debuggers very powerful but often overwhelming for quick introspection. I wanted a lightweight, modern, and approachable tool to learn about object memory layouts, teach others about the C++ object model, and do simple leak/hex inspections.

Try it out:

Repo: https://github.com/LA-10/MemViz

It’s header-only in parts, with examples and test files you can build right away.

No signups, no barriers — just clone and run.

Feedback I’d love:

Is this useful in your workflow or teaching?

What features would you want for a simple memory visualization tool?

Where does it overlap or complement tools like ASan/Valgrind?

I’m around to discuss, answer questions, and hear any suggestions. It's very simple currently.

Thanks!