[Linux-aus] contest proposal

[jon.maddog.hall@gmail.com]

David,

To me there are more than one type of memory profiling:

o one that shows how an individual program uses memory and therefore can show if an individual program is a "pig"
o another shows how a running system is allocating its memory among all the running (and sleeping) processes

Both really need to be studied.

Another thing that could come out of this contest is a set of easy to understand rules for how new (and even experienced) users might tune their system to get both good user experience and good performance.
 
md

> On 01/04/2024 9:50 PM EST David Lloyd via linux-aus <linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au> wrote:
>  
>  
> 
>  
> 
> I'm absolutely certain there are memory profile tools - even just plain old top :P
> 
> The only thing we'd have to think of here, though, would be finding the "mythical average user".
> 
> DSL
> 
> On 1/1/2024 6:52 PM, Mitch Davis via linux-aus wrote:
> 
> > On Mon, 1 Jan 2024 at 12:46, Russell Coker via linux-aus <linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au mailto: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 mailto: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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