When Did We Stop Optimizing Software? | Shop Talk #85
from Dave’s Garage: Shop Talk Hosted by Dave Plummer and Glen Hodges
What happened to software optimization—and does understanding what's happening underneath still make you a better programmer? In Shop Talk #85, Dave Plummer answers viewer questions about software optimization, engineering discipline, abstraction, and whether modern developers are losing touch with the fundamentals that once made software remarkably fast and efficient. The discussion begins with a thoughtful viewer question about abstraction: should programmers simply embrace modern frameworks, or is it still worth understanding what's happening beneath the surface? From there, Dave shares stories from his years on Windows NT, including Microsoft's internal optimization tools like LEGO and BBT, how engineers measured performance, and why optimization was once considered a core engineering skill. Along the way, Dave and Glen discuss software bloat, AI-generated code, memory usage, operating system design, retro computing, and a handful of follow-up questions from the recent slot machine episode. Topics include: • Should programmers still understand what's under the hood? • Why software optimization mattered • Microsoft's LEGO and BBT optimization tools • Modern software bloat • AI-generated code and performance • Windows NT engineering stories • Operating system design • ELKS, the RCA 1802, and retro computing • DOS/Windows easter eggs • Slot machine follow-up questions
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