[nylug-talk] Excesive memory usage by Java (ranty)

[sixtyfourbeets]

On Tuesday 22 January 2008, sixtyfourbeets wrote:
> This particular application has two charting utilities, both from two
> different vendors.  Naturally both vendors use two different versions of
> Java, one of them uses 1.5 the other uses 1.6.  The software itself is
> written for Java 1.5.
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   Does this mean that the software as shipped comes with both of these
charting utilities and thus requires both Java 1.5 and 1.6?  It sounds like
it defaults to using the charting utility that uses Java 1.6 even though the
rest of the software is in Java 1.5.
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The software does come with both of these utilities, the ideal one technically
needs 1.6 but it does run on 1.5.  But it does not default to any particular
chart, when I choose the one I want it loads class files corresponding to
that chart.  The chart that has the most features and is more responsive
to configuring the studies is the one that needs 1.6 to run.
The vendor advises to use 1.5.
I dont think that is the problem, when volume picks up (usually market
open and close
but not always) the charts slow down.  Not the data but the charts and
eventually
the software will start to slow down possibly coming to a halt.
To add insult to injury they put in something that generates a 3 megabyte file
when it detects the software is slow.  Thereby slowing down this piece of
s  oftware even more.  I brought to their attention the  Uncertainaity
Principle
and The Observer effect.

> 3) Youre using Linux, we dont support Linux.

    Sounds like they've lost a customer.

I would agree but the problem is that their transactions are quick,
whereas places like Scottrade is slow and questionable.
Speaking of which, Scottrades data flows through seemingly unencrypted.
I can see the quotes via a tcpdump which is another option for data.

> 8) You should update to Java 1.5.x+ and not 1.5.x-.

   Version dependencies are not uncommon, but version dependencies on Java
tend to be a little more painful as well as a little more common, at least in
my experience.  That's why I tend to avoid client-side Java apps, where
possible.

Normally I would agree, from a window dressing standpoint their software is
the best I've seen for the retail 'investor' that will run on Linux.
In for a penny in for a pound.

Another company though that says they can offer just the data and provide
an API is gndt.com.  Granted their API is for microsoft but does come with
source code.

Still another place is interactivebrokers.com.  Their charting software is THE
worst,their transactions are THE cheapest.  They are self clearing and
connect directly to the exchanges which is supberb.
However they charge 10 a month for market data.
Still they offer an API and documentation.

Steve M