Software is Way Less Performant Today

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the growing issue of bloated and inefficient software, using Microsoft Visual Studio as a key example. They contrast the fast performance of older versions (around 2004) with the slow, feature-laden versions of today. The speaker argues that the problem lies not in hardware or individual laziness, but in a broader cultural and educational gap in the programming community. Many developers today are not taught to care about performance optimization, leading to wasteful, resource-heavy applications. The speaker advocates for a return to understanding how software impacts hardware and optimizing code for efficiency.

Takeaways

• 😀 Visual Studio's performance has significantly worsened over time. What used to load instantly in 2004 now takes several seconds in 2017 due to inefficient code decisions.
• 😀 Software developers often justify slow performance by citing additional features, but features shouldn't directly impact basic functions like updating values in a debugger.
• 😀 The performance issues in software like Visual Studio and Microsoft Teams are often the result of poor code architecture, not unavoidable technical challenges.
• 😀 Despite increased complexity in modern software, such as Docker or React.js, programmers are not consistently taught to optimize code for efficiency and speed.
• 😀 Slow software is often accepted as normal in the tech industry, which points to a culture problem rather than an individual laziness problem.
• 😀 Modern developers are capable of mastering complex technologies, yet they're often not encouraged to understand the underlying hardware and software principles that affect performance.
• 😀 The performance of software should be prioritized alongside feature development, as neglecting it results in unnecessary resource wastage.
• 😀 A key cultural shift is needed in programming, where understanding hardware and optimizing software performance becomes a shared priority.
• 😀 The issue of slow software isn't a simple technical failure but a systemic issue rooted in the lack of education about performance optimization in programming.
• 😀 Every programmer should know how computers work at a fundamental level, as this knowledge can directly impact the quality and speed of the software they create.

Q & A

What is the key example used in the script to illustrate the decline in software performance?

The key example is Visual Studio, which was fast and efficient in 2004 but became noticeably slower by 2017. The speaker uses this to highlight how software has regressed in terms of performance despite becoming more feature-rich.

What was Microsoft's feedback question about Visual Studio's performance in 2017?

In 2017, Microsoft asked developers how long it should take to load a project in Visual Studio. The minimum time they suggested was less than 10 seconds, which the speaker found concerning as it marked a significant decline from the past when projects loaded almost instantly.

How does the speaker explain the performance slowdown in modern software?

The speaker attributes the slowdown to poor coding practices and software bloat. He argues that adding more features to a program should not inherently slow down basic operations like displaying values in a debugger.

Why does the speaker claim modern programmers lack an understanding of performance optimization?

The speaker suggests that modern programmers are not taught to understand how various parts of a program affect performance. He believes there is a cultural trend in programming where developers focus on learning frameworks and APIs but neglect the importance of efficient, low-level performance.

What is the significance of the 2004 vs. 2017 Visual Studio demonstration?

The demonstration contrasts the performance of Visual Studio on two different machines—one from 2004 and another from 2017. Despite the older machine being much less powerful, the speaker shows that it performed the same tasks (loading a project and stepping through code) much faster, emphasizing the impact of bad coding decisions on modern software.

What is the speaker's stance on the excuses given for slow software performance?

The speaker rejects common excuses such as slow performance being due to things like credential checking or server-round trips. He believes these explanations are often just cover-ups for poor architectural choices and inefficient coding practices.

What does the speaker believe is a cultural problem in the software development community?

The speaker believes that there is a cultural issue where it has become acceptable for developers to not fully understand how computers work. He argues that this lack of foundational knowledge leads to a lack of focus on performance and efficiency in the software they build.

How does the speaker relate modern software frameworks to performance?

The speaker notes that developers are eager to learn and work with modern frameworks like Docker and React.js, but they often overlook how their code impacts hardware performance. He uses this to highlight the irony that developers can learn complex systems but still fail to prioritize efficiency.

What is the role of education in improving software performance according to the speaker?

The speaker argues that education is key to improving software performance. He believes that if programmers were better educated about the inner workings of computers and how to write efficient code, the cultural norm of sacrificing performance for features would change.

How does the speaker view the improvement efforts made by companies like Microsoft Teams in optimizing performance?

The speaker finds it concerning that companies like Microsoft Teams focus on reducing load times (e.g., from 20 seconds to 10 seconds) as if this is a major improvement. He believes that such delays should not be acceptable, especially when simple optimizations could vastly reduce boot times.