# Stack level too deep when parsing xml **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [July 13, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stack-level-too-deep-when-parsing-xml/109376 "2007-07-13T21:00:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dkitchel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@dkitchel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dkitchel)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stack-level-too-deep-when-parsing-xml/109376/1 "2007-07-13T21:00:04Z")
I’m trying to figure out why I’m getting a stack level too deep error. I have controller which parses xml (about 1400 lines) and ingests it into mysql. First I was getting a system stack error every time, but then I found the ulimit -s command which allows me to raise it from 8mb to 64mb. That solved the problem I thought, But now, I can parse the xml once, but when I do it for a second time, I get the stack level too deep error. If I quit the server (mongrel) and restart it using the script/server call, something resets and lets me do the xml parsing once again. But only once. is something getting clogged up? Do I need to clear the stack level somehow? It’s not an infinite loop, just a long xml file. ---
**Author:** ![dkitchel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@dkitchel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dkitchel)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stack-level-too-deep-when-parsing-xml/109376/2 "2007-07-13T21:15:36Z")
On 7/13/07, Davis K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > restart it using the script/server call, something resets and lets me do > the xml parsing once again. But only once. > > is something getting clogged up? Do I need to clear the stack level > somehow? > > It’s not an infinite loop, just a long xml file. Sounds like you have something, maybe a variable, that references itself causing an infinite recursion? Maybe it gets defined the first time around, so it’s not recursive until the second time? Just a guess. Chris ---
**Author:** ![dkitchel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@dkitchel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dkitchel)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stack-level-too-deep-when-parsing-xml/109376/3 "2007-07-13T21:40:20Z")
snacktime wrote: > On 7/13/07, Davis K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > > restart it using the script/server call, something resets and lets me do > > the xml parsing once again. But only once. > > > > is something getting clogged up? Do I need to clear the stack level > > somehow? > > > > It’s not an infinite loop, just a long xml file. > > Sounds like you have something, maybe a variable, that references > itself causing an infinite recursion? Maybe it gets defined the first > time around, so it’s not recursive until the second time? Just a > guess. > > Chris Nope, that’s not it. If I take out the @database.save line which creates the sql insert statements, I can run it as many times as I like no problem. Somehow 1400 sql insert statements brings rails to it’s knees and it cant recover without a restart. This can’t be true? There must be a solution? Rails must be able to handle this? No? ---
**Author:** ![dkitchel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@dkitchel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dkitchel)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/stack-level-too-deep-when-parsing-xml/109376/4 "2007-07-13T21:58:43Z")
Strangely enough I got that error in an app with - in a foldername and then changed to \_ and the error did go away. 2007/7/13, Davis K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid): > restart it using the script/server call, something resets and lets me do > > > ## – Andreas Kviby Telefon 070-352 66 76 E-post removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid