Unoptimized

Against optimization

One of the most inescapable edicts when leading a team is the order to optimize the system towards the organization’s goals.

The Browser's Main Thread Is Expensive | kciter.so

What comes to mind when you hear "frontend optimization"? For most of us it's things like reducing network requests, shrinking the bundle,…

Buy wisely

Whenever I buy things I try to prioritize cost per use. Sometimes I consider other priorities such as cost per smile, cost per thrill, cost per externality, ...

Ubiquity: The Fallacy of Premature Optimization

Moore's Law makes it seem as if resource limitations are always a minor consideration. If there will be twice as much memory for the same price in 18 months, why bother to squeeze a factor of 2 from an application's memory requirements? If the CPU will be twice as fast by then, why bother to shave some running time from a program? In other words, why bother to optimize programs? Isn't it better to just get them running and let Moore's Law take us off the hook when resources are constrained? Randall Hyde argues that optimization is important even when memory and processor double regularly.

Getting Ahead By Being Inefficient

Inefficient does not mean ineffective, and it is certainly not the same as lazy. You get things done – just not in the most effective way possible. You’re a bit sloppy, and use more energy. But don’t feel bad about it. There is real value in not being the best.

The Data Minimization Principle in Machine Learning

The principle of data minimization aims to reduce the amount of data collected, processed or retained to minimize the potential for misuse, unauthorized access, or data breaches. Rooted in...

Reward is not the optimization target — LessWrong

TurnTrout discusses a common misconception in reinforcement learning: that reward is the optimization target of trained agents. He argues reward is b…

bandwidth minimization

Bandwidth minimization is directly connected to the minimization of the use of artificial energy for networking, so it is of interest to permacomputing.

Speedstrapping Playbook: Maximize Growth with Minimal Dilution DRAFT

Speedstrap Playbook Published version here - Part 1 + Part 2 Beta Version .9 - October 2025 “...my gut is we have a problem. The system as it exists today promotes less liquidity, less traditional, high quality company building and way higher burn rates. That’s just not a great combination from m...

It's not enough to have better ideals.

You also need to build a better product.

No cost, no value | jola.dev

Why generating code makes it meaningless, why writing code by hand has value, and why toil is a critical part of the human experience.

In Soviet Union, Optimization Problem Solves <em>You</em>

Cross-posted at Crooked Timber, as part of the seminar on Red Plenty. That version has uglier math, but allows comments.

The Optimization Trap: Why Too Much Efficiency Makes Us Fragile - The Great Simplification

In this episode, Nate is joined by biologist and biophysicist Olivier Hamant to explore why living systems prioritize robustness over performance, and what that means for a civilization built almost entirely in the opposite direction.

Efficiency is the Enemy

If you ever find yourself stressed, overwhelmed, sinking into stasis despite wanting to change, or frustrated when you can’t respond to new opportunities, you need more slack in your life. Here’s how slack works and why you need more of it.

Optimistic Computing

I recently made two new friends: Abhinav Omprakash and Dawn Walker. Abhinav said I’m an optimist and I should write about it. Dawn said I shouldn’t try to coin any new terms. I should know better, but this essay follows Abhinav’s recommendation — and credits Dawn, in the very likely event I should have followed her advice instead. I have been alive for approximately four decades. Each of those decades was witness to its own fun brand of computering.