Fixed Capacity
Fixed capacity is a system design concept where resources, such as servers, memory, or processing units, are allocated in predetermined, unchanging amounts that cannot be dynamically adjusted during runtime. It involves planning and provisioning infrastructure based on peak or estimated demand, often leading to either underutilization or overloading if predictions are inaccurate. This approach contrasts with elastic or scalable systems that can automatically adapt to varying workloads.
Developers should understand fixed capacity when designing systems with predictable, stable workloads, such as embedded systems, legacy applications, or environments with strict regulatory constraints where dynamic scaling is not feasible. It is also relevant for cost optimization in scenarios where over-provisioning is cheaper than implementing elastic infrastructure, or for performance-critical applications requiring guaranteed resources without interference from other processes.