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Memory Mapped Files vs Shared Memory

Developers should use Memory Mapped Files for high-performance scenarios involving large files, such as database systems, video processing, or scientific computing, where low-latency random access is critical meets developers should learn shared memory when building applications that require low-latency communication between processes, such as real-time systems, high-performance computing (hpc), or multi-process architectures like database systems. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Memory Mapped Files

Developers should use Memory Mapped Files for high-performance scenarios involving large files, such as database systems, video processing, or scientific computing, where low-latency random access is critical

Memory Mapped Files

Nice Pick

Developers should use Memory Mapped Files for high-performance scenarios involving large files, such as database systems, video processing, or scientific computing, where low-latency random access is critical

Pros

  • +It's also valuable for inter-process communication (IPC) by allowing multiple processes to share data efficiently without copying, and in embedded systems or real-time applications where direct memory access optimizes resource usage
  • +Related to: virtual-memory, inter-process-communication

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Shared Memory

Developers should learn shared memory when building applications that require low-latency communication between processes, such as real-time systems, high-performance computing (HPC), or multi-process architectures like database systems

Pros

  • +It is particularly useful in scenarios where large datasets need to be shared quickly, such as in scientific simulations, video processing, or financial trading platforms, to avoid the performance penalties of data duplication
  • +Related to: inter-process-communication, parallel-computing

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Memory Mapped Files if: You want it's also valuable for inter-process communication (ipc) by allowing multiple processes to share data efficiently without copying, and in embedded systems or real-time applications where direct memory access optimizes resource usage and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Shared Memory if: You prioritize it is particularly useful in scenarios where large datasets need to be shared quickly, such as in scientific simulations, video processing, or financial trading platforms, to avoid the performance penalties of data duplication over what Memory Mapped Files offers.

🧊
The Bottom Line
Memory Mapped Files wins

Developers should use Memory Mapped Files for high-performance scenarios involving large files, such as database systems, video processing, or scientific computing, where low-latency random access is critical

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