The "wheel of reincarnation" is a thing in multiple sub-fields of computing: where there are two approaches to an architectural solution, an arms race between c

The "wheel of reincarnation" is a thing in multiple sub-fields of computing: where there are two approaches to an architectural solution, an arms race between competing models often develops. (In the 1960s-2000s in computer graphics it was a competition between dedicated GPU hardware -- e.g. Evans and Sutherland, Silicon Graphics -- and throw lots of CPUs at the problem and solve it in code. That race was ultimately run by the masses of GPUs thanks to Moore's Law, but for a while there was a competing model where commodity CPUs and software could undercut on price. Similarly: departmental minicomputers, corporate-wide mainframe, and feral PCs roaming the desktop is a similar story of competing models.)