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Copying isn't free though. Every front-end application built on Electron or running in a container that duplicates half of the OS stack burns more memory on my
by jackcviers3 2y ago
Copying isn't free though. Every front-end application built on Electron or running in a container that duplicates half of the OS stack burns more memory on my computer, forcing earlier upgrades of either the entire machine or RAM with each year that passes.
It's free to produce, but the cost of running more copied software always increases.
- sokoloff 2y agoBut that at least allows the consumer to decide the tradeoff. If this Electron app or container costs me more than it’s worth to me, I don’t run it.
- pyrale 2y ago> But that at least allows the consumer to decide the tradeoff. ...If they connect the dots.
- jackcviers3 2y agoWhen consumer software still came on physical media, nearly everything advertised the amount of ram and minimum system and cpu requirements necessary to run the software. That just isn't the case nowadays, so you don't know there will be trouble until it occurs at runtime. I can limit the memory available to ALL the tools I use every day (I only do it for docker and jvm stuff), set priority levels, etc., but it feels very weird for a brand new laptop to hit swap after a few days of uptime.
- _trampeltier 2y agoSo yes, it's free for the dev. The user payes the memory and electricity.
- analog31 2y agoI think there are a number of per-unit costs of software, because your edge cases get tested more frequently. The risk goes up for users finding bugs and incompatible working environments. They demand more unusual features. If successful, your growing user base attracts the attention of competitors. If coupled with hardware, the rising complexity of software makes the hardware more costly to develop and sustain. It may delay the introduction of newer or more valuable hardware features and products.