> I started by inspecting the list of recurring tasks, but the output was so voluminous that finding anything useful was a dim prospect. Sometimes I phantasize

> I started by inspecting the list of recurring tasks, but the output was so voluminous that finding anything useful was a dim prospect. Sometimes I phantasize about a novel computer or phone, where you can "physically" inspect the running (non-OS) applications. On a phone, you'd have a glowing edge where each light or micro display corresponds to one application. You can only ever have 6 or so apps running at the same time. If an app launches a lot in the background, you'd notice it quickly from the new color blinking. On a desktop PC or a server, maybe you'd even have a little door in the case, and behind it a bunch of little OLED displays that replace the task manager. With a click of a physical switch, you could evict an application from memory automatically. Of course this would be unpractical for a lot of reasons, and you'd have to trust the OS/firmware. But I like both ideas of understanding what the PC is doing, and adding back a tactile element to computing.