I want to implement the SetHeapTraceOutput routine mentioned in this thread - http://lists.lazarus.freepascal.org/pipermail/lazarus/2011-December/069226.html

I also want to do it in a tidy manner, perhaps create some kind of application template which contains it, and I think it should be in the finalization sections of the application or something like that, probably with the use of AddExitProc.

How would it all hang together? Are the initialization and finalization sections in a unit run when the program starts, or are they run when something in the unit is created?
eg if a form is not created automatically by the application would its initialization section be run at the state of the program regardless of whether something defined is used, and woulld that also apply to its finalization section?

When program starts, before main program 'begin'.

eg if a form is not created automatically by the application would its initialization section be run at the state of the program regardless of whether something defined is used, and woulld that also apply to its finalization section?

Mattias

How about AddExitProc - can you add multiple exit procedures and set the order of their execution or is it a FIFO or LIFO order?

You can add multiple exit procedures. They are executed LIFO. (in general, it is best not to make too much assumptions about the order)

Michael.