Lightweight Lightweight Alternatives to Alternatives to Heavy/Bloated Heavy/Bloated

SoftwareSoftware

By Aaron ColeBy Aaron Cole

IntroductionIntroduction Moore’s law claims CPU speed will double every Moore’s law claims CPU speed will double every

18-24 months18-24 months Wirth’s law claims software will decelerate faster Wirth’s law claims software will decelerate faster

then hardware acceleratesthen hardware accelerates Wirth’s law not implicitly true for all software, is Wirth’s law not implicitly true for all software, is

relatively true for most softwarerelatively true for most software I will use two terms when referring to large I will use two terms when referring to large

software software Bloated – Software that has no logical reason to require Bloated – Software that has no logical reason to require

so much resources or have so many featuresso much resources or have so many features Heavy – Software that is full of features, it may be Heavy – Software that is full of features, it may be

bloated but it has many features a lightweight version bloated but it has many features a lightweight version can’t possibly match.can’t possibly match.

Software DecelerationSoftware Deceleration

Software deceleration can be put down to Software deceleration can be put down to two reasonstwo reasons Increase in features ‘feature creep’Increase in features ‘feature creep’ ProgrammingProgramming

Heavy software generally caused by Heavy software generally caused by feature creepfeature creep

Bloated software generally caused by lazy Bloated software generally caused by lazy programmingprogramming

Feature CreepFeature Creep As new versions of established software are released As new versions of established software are released

there are two certainties for 99% of these releases; there are two certainties for 99% of these releases; they will require more resources and they will have they will require more resources and they will have more featuresmore features

After a few cycles the piece of software will have After a few cycles the piece of software will have countless features and be many times larger then countless features and be many times larger then older versionolder version

This is not a problem for most software as some of This is not a problem for most software as some of these newer features may increase productivity or these newer features may increase productivity or make the experience more user friendlymake the experience more user friendly

Then there are the exceptions, where with each new Then there are the exceptions, where with each new version the software just seems larger and doesn’t version the software just seems larger and doesn’t offer any extra functionalityoffer any extra functionality

Feature creep doesn’t only refer to user based Feature creep doesn’t only refer to user based features features

ProgrammingProgramming

Written in a language that runs a top a Written in a language that runs a top a framework or VMframework or VM JVMJVM .net Framework.net Framework All scripting languagesAll scripting languages

PythonPython PerlPerl Ruby Ruby Etc..Etc..

Lazy programming and sloppy codeLazy programming and sloppy code

ExamplesExamples

Heavy SoftwareHeavy Software PhotoshopPhotoshop MS Office*MS Office* WMPWMP Most Anti-VirusesMost Anti-Viruses

Bloated SoftwareBloated Software Nero BurningNero Burning Adobe ReaderAdobe Reader iTunes*iTunes* Norton’s Anti VirusNorton’s Anti Virus

Bloated - Adobe ReaderBloated - Adobe Reader

The de facto standard PDF readerThe de facto standard PDF reader Installation .exe is roughly 35mbInstallation .exe is roughly 35mb Default install size of the latest reader is Default install size of the latest reader is

198mb198mb Memory footprint with no PDF open is 24mbMemory footprint with no PDF open is 24mb Installs other software at installation Installs other software at installation

without the option to not install the other without the option to not install the other softwaresoftware

Sluggish when first openingSluggish when first opening

Lightweight – Foxit ReaderLightweight – Foxit Reader

Becoming the main alternative to Adobe Becoming the main alternative to Adobe ReaderReader

Installation .exe roughly 2.6mbInstallation .exe roughly 2.6mb Requires a touch over 7mb of disc space Requires a touch over 7mb of disc space

for the latest versionfor the latest version Memory footprint with no PDF open is 9mbMemory footprint with no PDF open is 9mb The FoxitReader.exe is 6mb and is The FoxitReader.exe is 6mb and is

portable so you can chuck it on a USB and portable so you can chuck it on a USB and use it on any PC with windows 2000 or use it on any PC with windows 2000 or higher higher

Bloated* - iTunesBloated* - iTunes

Installer exe for windows 65mbInstaller exe for windows 65mb Requires 85mb of disc space once installedRequires 85mb of disc space once installed Also installs QuickTime at installation without Also installs QuickTime at installation without

the option to not install it, taking an extra the option to not install it, taking an extra 65mb65mb

When open not playing any songs or videos When open not playing any songs or videos has a memory footprint of 60mbhas a memory footprint of 60mb

Also has many other processes runningAlso has many other processes running These processes are added to the startup as These processes are added to the startup as

wellwell

Lightweight – Media MonkeyLightweight – Media Monkey

Media Monkey is a relatively light media Media Monkey is a relatively light media player that has all the features of most player that has all the features of most larger media playerslarger media players

Installer exe 7mbInstaller exe 7mb Once installed takes up 35mb of disc Once installed takes up 35mb of disc

spacespace When open but not playing any media has When open but not playing any media has

a memory footprint of 35mba memory footprint of 35mb Supports most the main features of Supports most the main features of

iTunes; song statistics, ripping, burning iTunes; song statistics, ripping, burning and syncs with all current iPods and syncs with all current iPods

Advantages of iTunesAdvantages of iTunes

While Media Monkey While Media Monkey willwill let you let you transfer movies onto your iPod Media transfer movies onto your iPod Media Monkey doesn’t play moviesMonkey doesn’t play movies

iTunes Store (maybe)iTunes Store (maybe) Very good smart play listsVery good smart play lists

Heavy – Media MonkeyHeavy – Media Monkey

If you just want to listen to your If you just want to listen to your music and nothing else then Media music and nothing else then Media Monkey is a heavy piece of softwareMonkey is a heavy piece of software

If you want to just listen to some If you want to just listen to some music in the background while doing music in the background while doing work or gaming Media Monkey has work or gaming Media Monkey has more features then needed for this more features then needed for this specific taskspecific task

Lightweight – 1by1Lightweight – 1by1

All it does it play music straight from All it does it play music straight from the directorythe directory

Installation exe 114kbInstallation exe 114kb After installation the 1by1 exe is After installation the 1by1 exe is

74kb74kb When not playing any media has a When not playing any media has a

memory footprint of 6.1mbmemory footprint of 6.1mb