[Linux-aus] contest proposal

[Mitch Davis]

On Mon, 1 Jan 2024 at 12:46, Russell Coker via linux-aus <
linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au> wrote:

> We have an ongoing problem of system bloat.  Linux laptops with 8G of RAM
> but that sort of thing doesn't justify 80* more RAM.


There's no point trying to fix a resource use problem without knowing where
the problem is.  We have profilers because humans are notoriously bad at
guessing.

For auditing where time goes when booting a system, there's a tool
(actually, it's more of an ecosystem that's arisen) called bootchart that
shows all the processes that get run, when these processes get run, the
dependencies between them, and where CPU is being spent.

  https://community.linuxmint.com/software/view/bootchart

Is there an equivalent tool which will show a break down of how memory has
been allocated on a running system?  Such a tool would show where the most
gains are to be made.

Mitch.


On Mon, 1 Jan 2024 at 12:46, Russell Coker via linux-aus <
linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au> wrote:

> We have an ongoing problem of system bloat.  Linux laptops with 8G of RAM
> aren't doing much more than laptops with 96M of RAM did 25 years ago.  Yes
> we
> have new features such as Bluetooth and integrated controls for pausing
> audio
> etc but that sort of thing doesn't justify 80* more RAM.
>
> I think that a way of alleviating this problem is to gamify it.  Make a
> contest to find the best reduction of memory in commonly used FOSS
> programs
> and give recognition at the next Everything Open conference.  Reduction
> can be
> by optimising the source of a program, optimising configuration, or
> developing
> a way of easily using alternative less memory hungry programs.
>
> Give the best contestants small trophys (a quick Google suggests that's
> $20
> including delivery) and everyone who does something noteworthy a mention
> on
> the web site.
>
> I think this would be easy to run, entertaining for delegates, and good
> for
> the community.
>
> What do you think?
>
>
> PS I tried sending this directly to the council but hit an SPF problem.
>
> --
> My Main Blog         http://etbe.coker.com.au/
> My Documents Blog    http://doc.coker.com.au/
>
>
>
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