Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

You know it is just Wirth's law in action: "Software gets slower faster than hardware gets faster." [^1]

In fact Jevons Paradox: When technological progress increases the efficiency with which a resource is used, but the rate of consumption of that resource rises due to increasing demand - essentially, efficiency improvements can lead to increased consumption rather than the intended conservation. [^2][^3]

[^1]: https://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~damithch/quotes/quote27.htm

[^2]: https://www.greenchoices.org/news/blog-posts/the-jevons-para...

[^3]: https://quickonomics.com/terms/jevons-paradox/



I think it goes deeper. There is a certain level of slowness that causes pain to users. When that level is hit, market forces cause attention to software efficiency.

Hardware efficiency just gives more room for software to bloat. The pain level is a human factor and stays the same.

So time to adapt Wirths law: Software gets slower >exactly as much< as hardware gets faster




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: