[nylug-talk] Free -m shows 300MB usage after upgrade to 1GB.

[Chris Knadle]

Hey, Steve.

On Wednesday 02 January 2008, sixtyfourbeets wrote:
> The reason I upgraded to 1GB in the first place is because I use an
> application that is Java based. With Firefox running by itself (3 windows
> and multiple tabs) memory usage with 512MB of RAM was at around 100MB.
> Once I launched this Java application memory usage spiked considerably
> and sometimes the OS would start to swap when it would retrieve
> requested data. I contacted the vendor and they tried to help but
> they suggested to upgrade to 1GB, not surprising.
> I think every vendor who writes anything in Java uses the following
> formula to alleviate any excessive memory
> usage, Cliets amount of RAM (or CRAM) * 2.

   Based on your description of your discussions with the company that made 
the app, I'd say they were playing "point the finger".  I guess they were 
trying to use Douglas Adams' SEP field.  [Somebody Else's Problem...]

   Personally I'm not a fan of Java for use as a GUI, and I think that's the 
wrong thing to use it for.  There other areas where Java seems to be doing 
well, like with Tomcat... but not for a GUI.  On the plus side it does make 
the code portable [as long as you have the right Java version loaded...]

   If this Java app really is using > 512MB then maybe something is wrong.  
Depends -- I don't know what the app is or how much RAM it's designed to use, 
etc.  It might very well be that it's doing what it's [mis]designed to do.

   Java itself last I remember took about 32M or so to run the JVM.  I 
wouldn't jump to the conclusion that this was due to a problem with Java -- 
it's more likely something to do with the application itself.

   And by definition it shouldn't matter what the OS is.  Wasn't that the 
point of Java?

   -- Chris

-- 

Chris Knadle
Chris.Knadle at coredump.us