5 ms·

Yeah, but there are 10 JavaScript developers for each C/C++ developer. I'm a Python developer and I can work from laptop. I do a lot of data processing and my

by f311a 6y ago

Yeah, but there are 10 JavaScript developers for each C/C++ developer. I'm a Python developer and I can work from laptop. I do a lot of data processing and my laptop can handle development and testing. On production, some of the scripts are running on 64 core machines and use vector operations via numpy and scipy.

sroussey 6y ago
Even JS devs “compile” their code and use multiple threads. And when JS runs, every JS engine uses multiple threads (parsing, running, GC). Just look at how many threads chrome is using on a single web page. No need to throw shade on JS devs and their equipment needs.
- f311a 6y ago
  Yes, but you can't use 105W CPU in your laptop anyway. In a company where I work, almost every front-end developer uses a laptop with an external display because it's a portable solution.
  - effie 6y ago
    I don't know if you can use it, but you sure can buy it: https://www.originpc.com/gaming/laptops/eon15-x-amd/ https://www.originpc.com/gaming/laptops/eon15-x-amd/
    - gambiting 6y ago
      Sure, there's also a company called Eurocom which will happily stick a 165W nominal TDP Intel CPU into a laptop case - but there is no way it can run at maximum boost for a very long time.
- lliamander 6y ago
  I think OP's main argument is that if you actually need a lot of cores, then you should probably be offloading some of that work onto a server. I currently use a 6-core mobile H-class CPU for my work that is a mix of Java and JS development, with a bunch of browser tabs and docker containers running, large IntelliJ project, etc. While my system often has a lot of processes/threads running, the main cost of those is in memory utilization rather than constant CPU performance. I'm not saying that can't use more CPU horsepower, but it's certainly enough for my needs (for now). The main benefit of having more cores for me right now is just to maintain system responsiveness while running a bunch of background tasks, rather than raw throughput of large compile jobs.
  - tmd83 6y ago
    Kind of the same setup for me. Primarily Java work on a 6 core laptop. Between Chrome absurd RAM/cpu usage, IntelliJ, Gradle, Weblogic memory usage is just super high and cpu is not so little either at times even without build. Add anything extra I'm running for diagnostic, performance tuning and things are very troublesome. And Mac doesn't seem to handle such pressure as gracefully as Linux (though I'm not 100% sure).
    - lliamander 6y ago
      I'm running Linux and things generally feel pretty smooth to me. It wouldn't surprise me if Linux had better multi-tasking support.
      - tmd83 6y ago
        I think more than better multi tasking it's handling of load when things are at the limit in some fashion whether is excessive cpu or ram.
notJim 6y ago
LOL I'm a "js developer" and the system I work on requires like 10 docker containers. Not sure where this idea comes from that JS developers don't need power.
- AlfeG 6y ago
  Webpack compilation of hello world projects are insanely long task. If new CPU can reduce this *hit in 20% I will be happy
  - effie 6y ago
    But if people switch to those better CPUs, they will make the compilation even more complex... we just can't win the battle with bloated software.
    - hombre_fatal 6y ago
      None of the main platform client dev tools are lightweight. Xcode and Android Studio are massive and super complex, not just Webpack. Client dev isn't as simple as we like to pretend.
- rowanG077 6y ago
  You are just wasting cycles and memory. Don't use docker if you care about performance.
  - notJim 6y ago
    This kind of response is supremely unhelpful. I work at a company with a large team, I'm not just going to tell all 300+ people to drop everything and rewrite the entire dev stack. Docker has become the de facto standard for dev environments.
    - rowanG077 6y ago
      My comment was flippant because your comment was useless. Of course if you decide to use something like docker you will force yourself into a performance corner. This would happen with literally any piece of software. It's not then valid to use that as a way of requiring a better cpu. No what you need is to get your development environment in order. Btw docker is only standard for CI systems. Never would I advise anyone to actually use docker for local development let alone 10 docker instances at once. It's just pure insanity.
Macha 6y ago
With modern JS toolchains, arguably JS devs care more about top single core perf than C++/Rust/Java devs.

by f311a 6y ago

sroussey 6y ago

Even JS devs “compile” their code and use multiple threads. And when JS runs, every JS engine uses multiple threads (parsing, running, GC). Just look at how many threads chrome is using on a single web page. No need to throw shade on JS devs and their equipment needs.

f311a 6y ago
Yes, but you can't use 105W CPU in your laptop anyway. In a company where I work, almost every front-end developer uses a laptop with an external display because it's a portable solution.
- effie 6y ago
  I don't know if you can use it, but you sure can buy it: https://www.originpc.com/gaming/laptops/eon15-x-amd/ https://www.originpc.com/gaming/laptops/eon15-x-amd/
  - gambiting 6y ago
    Sure, there's also a company called Eurocom which will happily stick a 165W nominal TDP Intel CPU into a laptop case - but there is no way it can run at maximum boost for a very long time.
lliamander 6y ago
I think OP's main argument is that if you actually need a lot of cores, then you should probably be offloading some of that work onto a server. I currently use a 6-core mobile H-class CPU for my work that is a mix of Java and JS development, with a bunch of browser tabs and docker containers running, large IntelliJ project, etc. While my system often has a lot of processes/threads running, the main cost of those is in memory utilization rather than constant CPU performance. I'm not saying that can't use more CPU horsepower, but it's certainly enough for my needs (for now). The main benefit of having more cores for me right now is just to maintain system responsiveness while running a bunch of background tasks, rather than raw throughput of large compile jobs.
- tmd83 6y ago
  Kind of the same setup for me. Primarily Java work on a 6 core laptop. Between Chrome absurd RAM/cpu usage, IntelliJ, Gradle, Weblogic memory usage is just super high and cpu is not so little either at times even without build. Add anything extra I'm running for diagnostic, performance tuning and things are very troublesome. And Mac doesn't seem to handle such pressure as gracefully as Linux (though I'm not 100% sure).
  - lliamander 6y ago
    I'm running Linux and things generally feel pretty smooth to me. It wouldn't surprise me if Linux had better multi-tasking support.
    - tmd83 6y ago
      I think more than better multi tasking it's handling of load when things are at the limit in some fashion whether is excessive cpu or ram.

notJim 6y ago

LOL I'm a "js developer" and the system I work on requires like 10 docker containers. Not sure where this idea comes from that JS developers don't need power.

AlfeG 6y ago
Webpack compilation of hello world projects are insanely long task. If new CPU can reduce this *hit in 20% I will be happy
- effie 6y ago
  But if people switch to those better CPUs, they will make the compilation even more complex... we just can't win the battle with bloated software.
  - hombre_fatal 6y ago
    None of the main platform client dev tools are lightweight. Xcode and Android Studio are massive and super complex, not just Webpack. Client dev isn't as simple as we like to pretend.
rowanG077 6y ago
You are just wasting cycles and memory. Don't use docker if you care about performance.
- notJim 6y ago
  This kind of response is supremely unhelpful. I work at a company with a large team, I'm not just going to tell all 300+ people to drop everything and rewrite the entire dev stack. Docker has become the de facto standard for dev environments.
  - rowanG077 6y ago
    My comment was flippant because your comment was useless. Of course if you decide to use something like docker you will force yourself into a performance corner. This would happen with literally any piece of software. It's not then valid to use that as a way of requiring a better cpu. No what you need is to get your development environment in order. Btw docker is only standard for CI systems. Never would I advise anyone to actually use docker for local development let alone 10 docker instances at once. It's just pure insanity.

Macha 6y ago

With modern JS toolchains, arguably JS devs care more about top single core perf than C++/Rust/Java devs.