memory consumption Archives

Winsage

July 11, 2026

This Windows feature has been eating users’ RAM for years, Microsoft still hasn’t fixed it

Memory leaks have been reported with the Phone Link feature in Windows 11, specifically the Cross Device Service, which is consuming excessive amounts of RAM. Users have noted that this service can use between 15 to 30GB of RAM, leading to significant system slowdowns and reduced internet speeds. Complaints about this issue have been ongoing since early 2023, with users often needing to manually intervene via Task Manager to restore system performance. The Cross Device Service is intended to facilitate features like clipboard sharing and notification syncing but appears to malfunction and enter a loop that increases memory usage. Microsoft has not officially acknowledged the problem, and while generic troubleshooting steps have been suggested, they may not resolve the issue for all users. Disabling the Phone Link feature has been proposed as a potential solution to mitigate memory consumption.

Tech Optimizer

July 8, 2026

Logical replication improvements in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL 18

PostgreSQL logical replication has operational challenges, such as the absence of generated columns in the replication stream, replication conflicts causing apply worker halts, and lingering replication slots consuming write-ahead log (WAL) files. PostgreSQL 18 introduces enhancements to address these issues, including the ability to include STORED generated columns in the replication stream with a new publication parameter, detailed conflict counters in pg_stat_subscription_stats, automatic invalidation of idle replication slots, and the ability to toggle two-phase commit settings on live subscriptions. To set up a test environment, two PostgreSQL 18 instances (one publisher and one subscriber) are required, along with an EC2 instance for executing commands. The publisher and subscriber must have specific configurations for logical replication, including enabling logical replication and setting appropriate parameters. PostgreSQL 18 allows the replication of STORED generated columns by using the publish_generated_columns parameter. The subscriber must define these columns as regular columns. The new version also enhances conflict monitoring by providing detailed counters for different types of replication conflicts. Parallel streaming is now the default behavior for subscriptions, improving efficiency. The two-phase commit feature can now be modified on existing subscriptions without needing to recreate them. PostgreSQL 18 also introduces automatic cleanup of idle replication slots, which can be configured to invalidate unused slots after a specified duration. Considerations for implementation include ensuring that the subscriber's column types match those of the publisher for generated columns, the requirement for track_commit_timestamp for certain conflict counters, and the fact that sequences are not replicated. Cleanup of replication resources is recommended after testing to prevent unnecessary costs and WAL accumulation.

Winsage

July 4, 2026

I found a hidden way to limit RAM on Windows 11, and the results were way more surprising than I expected

Windows 11 allows users to limit RAM usage through the System Configuration tool (msconfig) for testing and troubleshooting purposes. Users can specify the maximum memory in megabytes, but there is no simple option to set a fixed amount like "4GB of RAM." Limiting RAM can degrade performance and may cause applications to become sluggish. To limit RAM, users must navigate to the Boot tab in msconfig, check the Maximum memory option, and enter the desired amount. To restore full RAM access, users need to uncheck the Maximum memory option in the same tool. On some modern systems with UEFI firmware and Secure Boot enabled, the Maximum memory setting may not be accessible, and disabling Secure Boot may be necessary to apply the limit. Disabling Secure Boot can reduce security against boot-level malware.

Winsage

July 4, 2026

Ex-Microsoft engineer rebuilds Notepad in 2.5KB using nothing but stuff Windows already had

Dave Plummer, a retired Microsoft engineer, has developed TinyRetroPad, a Notepad-like application that is only 2.5 kilobytes in size. TinyRetroPad includes features such as Open, Save, Find and Replace, printing, font selection, word wrap, and an unsaved changes prompt. It is built on existing Windows components, allowing it to function efficiently without extensive resources. TinyRetroPad is based on Dave’s Tiny Editor and utilizes RICHEDIT50W for text handling. The application's file size increased incrementally with each feature added, with the final size being 2,476 bytes. Crinkler, a compression linker, was used to optimize the executable. TinyRetroPad is still in development, facing issues like high memory consumption and compatibility problems. In contrast, Windows 11's Notepad has become larger and more complex, weighing approximately 352KB and incorporating features that some users find unnecessary. Windows 11 LTSC retains the classic Notepad without modern features, while TinyRetroPad aims to demonstrate the potential for simplicity in application design.

Winsage

June 20, 2026

Users are complaining that the new Windows version of Outlook is running slowly.

Microsoft has introduced two versions of Outlook in Windows 11: Outlook Classic (a Win32 desktop application) and the New Outlook. Users have reported significant performance issues with the New Outlook, noting a lag of approximately 10 seconds for tasks that Outlook Classic performs instantly. The New Outlook operates on WebView2, which involves multiple processes and higher memory consumption, while Outlook Classic runs as a single process. Microsoft is aware of these performance challenges and is testing a new API called 'Delayed Message Timing' to address them. Users find Outlook Classic to be more reliable and faster, particularly for businesses that need efficient notification processing.

Winsage

June 4, 2026

Microsoft is killing Windows 11’s web app slop, encourages devs to build native apps using WinUI

At the Build 2026 developer conference, Microsoft emphasized the creation of native applications for Windows 11, focusing on WinUI as the preferred framework over alternatives like Electron or React Native. The company is revitalizing Windows 11 with a commitment to quality, performance, and reliability, and has formed a dedicated team to develop native apps. Microsoft is rewriting the Start menu, previously built with React Native, and has reaffirmed its commitment to WinUI, dropping the "WinUI 3" label to signify stability. Chris Anderson stated that there are no plans for a new framework and that WinUI will be the production platform for Windows apps. Microsoft aims to address existing issues in WinUI, such as performance gaps, and is introducing new features like DataGrid and Charting support to attract enterprise developers. The company is also adapting WinUI for AI workflows and developing tools to assist developers in creating modern applications. While Microsoft acknowledges other frameworks, it seeks to position WinUI as the primary native framework for Windows. The Build 2026 conference marked a renewed focus on Windows, with plans to rewrite the Windows shell in WinUI for a cohesive user experience.

AppWizard

June 1, 2026

Android 18 Could Ban Battery-Draining Apps From the Play Store

Google is planning to implement stricter efficiency requirements for third-party applications with the launch of Android 18 in 2027. Developers may need to optimize their applications by removing unnecessary functions and background processes to avoid penalties, including potential removal from the Google Play Store. The focus will be on reducing battery drain, device overheating, memory consumption, background resource abuse, and improving overall system performance. If enforced, these changes could lead to longer battery life, reduced heating issues, faster performance, and improved reliability for users. However, developers may face challenges in optimizing their applications to meet these new standards.

Winsage

May 13, 2026

Former Windows boss reveals why modern Windows 11 apps feel slower, says Microsoft once gave every engineer a stopwatch

Steven Sinofsky, former head of the Windows Division at Microsoft, discussed the company's engineering culture and its focus on resource management from 1980 to 2000, where every engineer was given a physical stopwatch to measure various performance metrics. This practice emphasized optimizing software for speed and efficiency, a stark contrast to modern applications that consume significant RAM due to shifts in market dynamics and hardware advancements. The current trend prioritizes rapid feature deployment over optimization, leading to performance issues in applications. Microsoft is responding to criticism by enhancing the performance of Windows 11, focusing on native desktop applications and optimizing core components, including the Start menu and File Explorer. They are also testing new CPU scheduling profiles to reduce micro-lags during user interactions.