5 ms·

Yet another PoV: for some things with critical timing or so, GC might be a problem. But most of the time, it isn’t. The performance/predictability topic could a

by f1shy 2y ago

Yet another PoV: for some things with critical timing or so, GC might be a problem. But most of the time, it isn’t. The performance/predictability topic could also be reviewed… I was talking with a colleague about that, he said “in C I know exactly where things are when” And I replied that under any OS with virtual memory, you have basically no clue where are things at any time, in the N levels of cache, and you cannot do accurate time predictions anyway… [1] I’m convinced today GC is the way to go for almost all. And I was until 5 years ago or so, totally opposed to that view. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42456310 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42456310

pjmlp 2y ago
Even with critical timing, real time GCs exist for decades now, PTC and Aicas are two surviving companies selling software tooling for embedded markets, including their own JVM implementations, with AOT compilers, bare metal deployments and real time GC. Many of their customers are factory processes and military deployments with weapons control, two scenarios where any kind of stall might produce deadly results.
- f1shy 2y ago
  Thank you so much! Now I have a more powerful argument, when at work somebody says a motor ECU cannot use GC, because of time constraints! Of course I assume there might be a catch from the cost PoV, where Mil may be ok, automotive consumer goods may be a problem (today)
  - pjmlp 2y ago
    Here, https://www.ptc.com/en/products/developer-tools/perc https://www.ptc.com/en/products/developer-tools/perc https://www.aicas.com/wp/products-services/jamaicavm/ https://www.aicas.com/wp/products-services/jamaicavm/
- dwattttt 2y ago
  While I agree with the point, the word "surviving" doesn't do that point any favours.
  - pjmlp 2y ago
    Sadly in modern times many devs aren't willing to pay for their tools... Yet they surely appreciate the income they earn by using them.

by f1shy 2y ago

pjmlp 2y ago

Even with critical timing, real time GCs exist for decades now, PTC and Aicas are two surviving companies selling software tooling for embedded markets, including their own JVM implementations, with AOT compilers, bare metal deployments and real time GC. Many of their customers are factory processes and military deployments with weapons control, two scenarios where any kind of stall might produce deadly results.

f1shy 2y ago
Thank you so much! Now I have a more powerful argument, when at work somebody says a motor ECU cannot use GC, because of time constraints! Of course I assume there might be a catch from the cost PoV, where Mil may be ok, automotive consumer goods may be a problem (today)
- pjmlp 2y ago
  Here, https://www.ptc.com/en/products/developer-tools/perc https://www.ptc.com/en/products/developer-tools/perc https://www.aicas.com/wp/products-services/jamaicavm/ https://www.aicas.com/wp/products-services/jamaicavm/
dwattttt 2y ago
While I agree with the point, the word "surviving" doesn't do that point any favours.
- pjmlp 2y ago
  Sadly in modern times many devs aren't willing to pay for their tools... Yet they surely appreciate the income they earn by using them.