3 ms·

But at the FAANGy companies I’ve worked at this issue persists. Mobile engineers working on 3yo computers and seeing new hires compile 2x (or more) faster with

But at the FAANGy companies I’ve worked at this issue persists. Mobile engineers working on 3yo computers and seeing new hires compile 2x (or more) faster with their newer machines.

alt227 1y ago
If they care that much about compile time, they would work on a desktop instead of a laptop.
- bigtechennui 1y ago
  Then the company would issue a desktop and a laptop, since they want engineers to be able to use computers in places other than their desk.
  - alt227 1y ago
    Yep, but then the laptop just becomes a screen and keyboard and can be the cheapest on the market. Remoting into your desktop to code is much more efficient than actually coding on a laptop, especially if you care about compile time. Then you can even set something compiling, shut your laptop and jump on your bike home, and have it done by the time you get there!
- LevGoldstein 1y ago
  ...and we're back to trying to convince a penny-wise pound-foolish company to buy twice the computing hardware for every developer.
  - bigstrat2003 1y ago
    Or just buy everyone desktops. Honestly I think laptops are completely superfluous for every business I've ever worked at. Nobody is truly getting value out of bringing a laptop to meetings, they just like them.
    - milch 1y ago
      I think whatever companies you were at just didn't have very effective meetings. There's a time for "laptops down" and there's a time for laptops. If we can't prototype, brainstorm, outline ideas... why even have meetings in the first place?
      - alt227 1y ago
        > why even have meetings in the first place Exactly. I personally have never been in a meeting which I thought was absolutely necessary. Except maybe new fire regs.
  - alt227 1y ago
    Nope, laptops are just very cheap thin clients to remote onto the desktops with much higher power. This gives the advantage of being able to leave things compiling whilst you shut your laptop at the end of the day.

But at the FAANGy companies I’ve worked at this issue persists. Mobile engineers working on 3yo computers and seeing new hires compile 2x (or more) faster with their newer machines.

alt227 1y ago

If they care that much about compile time, they would work on a desktop instead of a laptop.

bigtechennui 1y ago
Then the company would issue a desktop and a laptop, since they want engineers to be able to use computers in places other than their desk.
- alt227 1y ago
  Yep, but then the laptop just becomes a screen and keyboard and can be the cheapest on the market. Remoting into your desktop to code is much more efficient than actually coding on a laptop, especially if you care about compile time. Then you can even set something compiling, shut your laptop and jump on your bike home, and have it done by the time you get there!
LevGoldstein 1y ago
...and we're back to trying to convince a penny-wise pound-foolish company to buy twice the computing hardware for every developer.
- bigstrat2003 1y ago
  Or just buy everyone desktops. Honestly I think laptops are completely superfluous for every business I've ever worked at. Nobody is truly getting value out of bringing a laptop to meetings, they just like them.
  - milch 1y ago
    I think whatever companies you were at just didn't have very effective meetings. There's a time for "laptops down" and there's a time for laptops. If we can't prototype, brainstorm, outline ideas... why even have meetings in the first place?
    - alt227 1y ago
      > why even have meetings in the first place Exactly. I personally have never been in a meeting which I thought was absolutely necessary. Except maybe new fire regs.
- alt227 1y ago
  Nope, laptops are just very cheap thin clients to remote onto the desktops with much higher power. This gives the advantage of being able to leave things compiling whilst you shut your laptop at the end of the day.