B would require a fairly large shift in approach since currently the primary way we interact with the cloud is via browsers which are probably the biggest single users of client memory currently.
Part of the reason programs use so much memory is because of optimization, but of a different kind. Memory is fast-ish, so if you know or think that you will require X Y Z anyway then just load it in RAM. And, if you think you might need it later, don't bother unloading it. Just keep it around.
Garbage collectors also use similar strategies. Collecting garbage is expensive, so just don't until you need to. The extra memory usage in this case isn't a downside, it's an upside. Your code runs faster.
That's how Java and dotnet are able to achieve insane performance times in some benchmarks, like within 50% of native. They're not collecting garbage, and their allocators are actually faster than malloc.
If you've ever run a Java program at consistent 90% heap usage, you'll notice it absolutely grinds to a halt. I'm talking orders of magnitude slower. Naturally, this isnt highlighted in benchmarks, but it illustrates the power of allocating more memory.
TrackerFF|3 days ago
A) Programmers will get their shit together and start shipping lean software.
OR
B) New laptops will become neutered thin clients, and all the heavy lifting will be done by cloud service providers.
Which one seems more likely?
DharmaPolice|3 days ago
blackoil|3 days ago
2. People will buy laptop with low RAM because that's only what they can afford (hopefully upgradable).
3. They'll crib Chrome being slow, and will be suggested to use lightweight apps.
Ekaros|3 days ago
throwaw12|3 days ago
sourcegrift|3 days ago
array_key_first|3 days ago
Garbage collectors also use similar strategies. Collecting garbage is expensive, so just don't until you need to. The extra memory usage in this case isn't a downside, it's an upside. Your code runs faster.
That's how Java and dotnet are able to achieve insane performance times in some benchmarks, like within 50% of native. They're not collecting garbage, and their allocators are actually faster than malloc.
If you've ever run a Java program at consistent 90% heap usage, you'll notice it absolutely grinds to a halt. I'm talking orders of magnitude slower. Naturally, this isnt highlighted in benchmarks, but it illustrates the power of allocating more memory.
Cyph0n|3 days ago
codebje|3 days ago