Allocate memory using the Tcl library's memory allocation engine. Like malloc, but integrates with the memory command (if that's defined). Pairs up with Tcl_Realloc and Tcl_Free.
Tcl_Alloc and Tcl_Realloc guarantee to always return a valid block of memory; they will panic (call Tcl_Panic) if memory allocation fails. For alternatives that return NULL, use Tcl_AttemptAlloc and Tcl_AttemptRealloc.
See also the manual .
(Note: the manual does not mention Tcl_Panic)
(2022-10-25 from <aku> in the #tcl chat): Tcl_Obj are allocated in thread-local memory pools, and are thus (implicitly) owned by the thread allocating it. Releasing it in a different thread should break things. Because the pool is thread-local access is not mutex protected, there is the expectation that no other thread accesses it, and your Tcl_DecrRefCount from the other thread violates this assumption.
In other words: don't Tcl_Alloc/ckalloc something in one thread to release it in another thread. APN -> THIS IS INCORRECT. Tcl_Alloc/ckalloc are thread-safe. In fact posting of events across threads requires ckalloc to be used (not malloc). The quote above refers to allocated Tcl_Obj instances via Tcl_NewObj, Tcl_NewStringObj etc. In other words do not call Tcl_DecrRefCount (or any other Tcl_Obj related function) on a Tcl_Obj allocated in a different thread. Allocating memory via ckalloc and freeing via Tcl_Free in another thread is perfectly valid.