Input device design

[Joel Dice]

On Wed, 31 Aug 2005, Alan Cox wrote:

> On Mer, 2005-08-31 at 10:36 -0400, Jim Gettys wrote:
>> That implies that a XML text format had better be compressed (XML
>> compresses extremely well, but we should get some actual numbers).
>> Don't presume binary protocols are more compact than text ones, btw:
>> IIOP (the infamous CORBA wire protocol) has a minimum message size of >
>> 100 bytes!!!
>
> Equally compression can cost you vast amounts of resources and CPU cache
> footprint while upping latency. Not having to do the work in the first
> place is cheaper than compression.

Indeed.  Consider instead the opposite strategy: use a concise native 
protocol and translate it to a "bloated" one such as XML only when 
interoperation and/or human readability are necessary.  That way, you only 
pay the price when performance isn't a priority.

  - Joel