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Software Engineering
The Pragmatic Engineer·14d ago·5 min read
Pushing software engineering limits with “napkin math”
TL;DR
Software engineers can enhance product performance and cost efficiency by applying 'napkin math'—quick calculations that challenge existing assumptions. Simon Eskildsen emphasizes the importance of longer tenure in understanding infrastructure and building durable software.
✦ Why It Matters
Engineers should incorporate 'napkin math' into their workflow to quickly assess and improve product performance.
Key Takeaways
- Use 'napkin math' to challenge existing benchmarks and assumptions.
- Investigate theoretical limits of operations to identify inefficiencies.
- Document and memorize key performance metrics for quick reference.
- Focus on building software that ages well through thoughtful design.
How It Works
'Napkin math' involves performing quick calculations to estimate performance metrics, allowing engineers to identify discrepancies between expected and actual system behavior. For example, by calculating the theoretical maximum transactions per second for MySQL, Simon found it exceeded common benchmarks, prompting further investigation into its efficiency.