Chapter 1: Computer Abstractions and Technology

• In the 1960s and 1970s, a primary constraint on computer performance was the size of the computer's memory. Thus programmers often followed a simple credo: Minimize memory space to make programs fast
• In the 1980s, advances in computer design and memory technology have greatly reduced the importance of small memory size. For performance, programmers instead have to understand the hierarchical nature of memories and the parallel nature of processors