TIPS ON: The Garbage Collector Myth: A Reflection on Web App Memory Efficiency and Corporate Structure (2/2)
Tags: webdev, javascript, productivity
Published: 2023-10-02 16:26:17

BASED ON THIS THEOREM: https://dev.to/vipert/the-garbage-collector-myth-a-reflection-on-web-app-memory-efficiency-and-corporate-structure-3ho6

> MEANT TO EXPLAIN THAT: "The inefficiencies in our code often mirror the inefficiencies in our teams."

HERE IS: **Navigating the Web of Memory: Practical Steps and Mistakes to Avoid**

In the vast landscape of web development, navigating the intricacies of memory management becomes as essential as following the north star on a dark, clouded night. The beauty of web applications lies not just in their functionalities, but in the efficiency and precision with which they are sculpted. And, often, this requires breaking old patterns to create new, more streamlined pathways.

 > "*Fresh winds that break, also create*."

**Theorem: The Art of Object Reuse and Efficient Memory Management**

Crafting a web application is much like molding a piece of art. While creating something from scratch is often applauded, reusing elements without compromising on quality or integrity is an art in itself. Understanding and leveraging this practice holds the key to efficient memory usage.

**Techniques in Practice:**

1. **Reusing Objects:** Instead of continuously spawning new objects, consider maintaining a pool. When an object is no longer needed, it's returned to the pool rather than being discarded, ready to be repurposed. This minimizes the overhead of frequent allocations and garbage collections.

2. **TypedArray and Sub Arrays:** The use of TypedArrays can be a boon for performance. By sometimes employing a sub-array and avoiding the slice method, unnecessary copying is mitigated.

3. **Internal Temporary Variables:** While placing temporary variables inside an object's class might not directly impact memory, it can have implications for cleaner and more efficient code.

**Common Pitfalls:**

Drawing from real-world examples, platforms such as Instagram provide us with valuable lessons. Despite using advanced concepts like immutability, it's suspected they falter by creating 'blobs' without invoking "revokeObjectUrl" or even BitmapImages without the necessary "destroy" function. Such oversights can severely hinder the garbage collector, making it oblivious to unnecessary BitmapImages and object URLs.

Another glaring example is SoundCloud on desktop. Hours-long listening sessions cause accumulating audio files in the JS HEAP, which are only removed upon a session end or forced tab refresh. Solutions? The practice of destroying media content when it's no longer in view, or even utilizing tools like indexedDB for storage, ensuring swift retrievals without taxing network bandwidth.

**Mindset for Modern Developers:**

It's essential to recognize that negative comments or distractions won't shape the trajectory of our coding journey. Mastery in any discipline requires dedication, focus, and continuous learning. And this is especially true for web development. To this end, allocating time, perhaps even a day each week, for exploring others' codes, diving into insightful articles, and remaining updated with evolving browser and JavaScript nuances becomes imperative.

**Conclusion:**
As we harness the winds of change, breaking certain patterns and creating more efficient ones, the horizon of web application development shines brighter. By mastering the art of memory management and avoiding common pitfalls, we can craft experiences that are both delightful for the user and efficient in execution.

So, as we navigate the seas of the web, let's steer our ships with knowledge, practice, and unwavering focus. 🌟

**The Probable Web Memory Hiccups of Giants: A Closer Look**

When we delve deeper into the mechanics of popular platforms like Instagram and SoundCloud on the web, a recurrent issue surfaces: memory management.

It is suspected that these platforms create "blob" objects, a raw data representation often used for tasks like file operations, without accompanying them with the necessary "revokeObjectUrl" method. The `revokeObjectUrl` method releases any existing object URLs which were previously generated by the `createObjectURL` method, thus aiding in memory management.

Furthermore, they might be using `BitmapImage` objects without invoking the vital "destroy" function. Such an oversight can have profound implications for the overall memory usage of an application.

Here's why these two points are of particular concern:

1. **Garbage Collector's Blind Spot:** The garbage collector is a robust tool, but it's not omniscient. It doesn't frequently check for obsolete bitmap images and object URLs. More often than not, during a typical browsing session, these overlooked objects remain untouched. This, over time, accumulates and could lead to inefficient memory usage, degrading the user's experience.

2. **Untouched Memory Reserves:** When "blobs" and `BitmapImage` objects are left without their respective cleanup calls, they remain as untouched memory reserves. This means that even if they are no longer serving any purpose or function within the application, they continue to consume precious memory resources. Such residues can cause notable lags and glitches, especially in prolonged user sessions.

This points us to an imperative lesson: while giants in the tech world pave the way with innovation, even they aren't immune to overlook certain aspects. As developers and tech enthusiasts, recognizing and rectifying such memory pitfalls becomes our collective responsibility. After all, the devil, as they say, is in the details.

## The Imperative of Personal Development for Web Developers in Large Organizations

In the dynamic realm of web development, where technologies evolve at a rapid pace, continuous learning becomes more than just a value-added skill—it becomes a necessity. For developers working in large corporations, this principle of constant personal and professional growth holds even more weight. One might ask why? Here's a perspective that not only answers this but also offers a way forward.

**Why Personal Projects and Blogs Matter:**

1. **Enhancing Skill Sets:** Personal projects allow developers to experiment with new technologies, design paradigms, or methodologies that might not be part of their day-to-day work but could provide invaluable insights or skills.

2. **Building a Portfolio:** A developer's personal projects or blog can serve as a testament to their passion, commitment, and expertise in the field. It showcases their proactive approach to learning and adapting.

3. **Community Building:** By sharing knowledge through blogs or online platforms, developers contribute to the growth of the community. It's a two-way street—the community benefits from the shared expertise, and the developer gains feedback, alternative viewpoints, and potential collaboration opportunities.

**A Proposed Approach for Large Corporations:**

Given the significance of personal development, large organizations should adopt a two-pronged approach:

1. **Dedicated Off-Code Day:** Allocate a dedicated day or half-day during the workweek, still compensated, for developers to focus solely on personal projects, research, or knowledge enhancement. This would not only aid in their personal growth but would also bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the organization.

2. **A Benchmark for Productivity:** While productivity should never be solely gauged by one's side projects or blogs, a consistent commitment to these can indicate a developer's passion and drive. A developer who cannot set aside time for personal research, projects, or sharing knowledge might need to reconsider their position in a rapidly evolving industry.

**In Conclusion:**

In the vast landscape of web development, standing still is equivalent to moving backward. Personal projects, blogs, and continuous learning are not just extracurriculars—they are essential tools for ensuring relevance, growth, and productivity. Corporations that recognize this and invest in their developers' personal growth will find themselves at the forefront of innovation and industry leadership. After all, growth and learning are iterative, and there's always another milestone on the horizon. 🚀