RAM usage

[Muhibbij Abad]

Hello,

Great release!
However I noticed one minor detail that took my attention, the RAM usage.
In 4.8 version it was approximately 450MB and with 5.0 it is ~660MB in idle.
So what is a thing here? Is it something related to new kernel you are using, 5.4, or did you add some new background features?

I know, it may be pointed out in your release files, but I don’t really have time and intention to dig into it.
So I would be very touched if someone out there would explain me this issue.

Best regards,
Your BIG fan!

[TheDead]

Hi!

One of the main reasons is the desktop interface (DE).
The new version of XFCE uses quite a lot more ressources.
I have yet to try it on a 1G system... For fun though because I usually have a personnal 2GB minimum

Unless that is what you are running on? o.O

[Muhibbij Abad]

Lol. I would never think about DE.
I thought, as the name suggests, “Lite” always  gets the lightest of all!
And I couldn’t see the difference of 4.8’s xfce and 5.0’s except there are more themes and choices.
I run 64-bit 4 cores and 8GB ram machine, and 200MB isn’t a thing.
But it is over one release, and it makes me sad.
I would suggest for developers to keep an eye on RAM usage.
Mostly, they put DE on the system right from the line...

[TheDead]

Hi,

I have been in these forums a few years now and can safely assure you that the Linux Lite team as computer ressource usage as a primary concern.

You can search the forums but this was known when moving up to the new Desktop Environnent (DE)/Kernel/etc. versions.
[member=2]Jerry[/member]  also did some tests with a different  DE (named KDE), but there is no release announced or beta yet.
On the Ubuntu 20.04/XFCE platform, Linux Lite is still one of the lighest compared to the competition using similar configurations + it is one of the most userfriendly.

[Şerban S.]

[...] I run 64-bit 4 cores and 8GB ram machine, and 200MB isn’t a thing. [...]
But it is over one release, and it makes me sad.
I would suggest for developers to keep an eye on RAM usage. [...]

Hi!
I'm running LL 4.8, I tested LL 5.0 and maybe you should check your startup entries.
I have the exact RAM consumption on "idle" (~650 MB), but I have the following in the StartUp:
xfce4-taskmanager
doublecmd
...and some other, more than 15 applets.
Each can be viewed in TaskManager and then you may decide to test what happens if you disable and then re-enable.
Since the StartUp is by design and purpose CUSTOMIZABLE, "Minimum RAM consumption" is merely a conveneint way to do a primary evaluation of what might mean a "minimim requirements", with the least (smallest list of...) Apps running in background.
If you suspect that XFCE eats much more than it should, do a comparison test with the same settings in StartUp on both DEs.
In my experience, if you disable all the unnecessary Apps in the StartUp, the "OnIdle" value should drop to some 320 - 390 MB, which I guess is a decent value for a 2020 OS.
Another approach would be to check the list of services the system runs in background. Since my experience is almost zero, I can only suggest a check.
Still...
If you find a particular network service running while you know for sure you never configured and used the service, you can turn it off (Do a backup before, just in case...)
For instance if you never used the BTRFS FS, if such a service is running, will eat up some MBs and add seconds to overall boot and delays in App executions. Networking is awfully resource hungry...
I just pointed out the logic of a "low carb diet" on a system...
I have the same belief:
A good OS, is supposed to use the least of resources, in order to preserve the resources for Apps. The lower, the better, so I really feel we're on the same page with your... say... "objection".
Actually ,this is the EXACT reason I chose Linux Lite: LOW CONSUMPTION overall, on idle.
Since my "IDLE" Looks in fact a little more than what really "Idle" is supposed to be... I guess the extra 200 - 250 MB is a convenient bargain between "Available RAM for Apps" and "Minimum functionality available at hand"
I hope you'll find this ideas useful.
Since I tested both LL 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8 AND 5.0 and had the same RAM usage over more than two years, I guess the upgrades were carefully crafted on the side of CPU/RAM consumption balance.
Now there is a real problem...
The Apps you put in StartUp, might follow a different resources policy... I've seen it for years, too many times so... it's either you find a better App, or... just get things done with what's available.
One of this kind of App, is "Indicator plugin".
The trivial solution is to uninstall it, but... Well, I just kinda like having icons in the tray, being notified and the like. So, I bought into it... But I know it costs me so in the end, I'm ok with this. Even with the glitches...

Have a great day!