Ubuntu Performance Tip - Preload
14 06 2007Just when you thought Linux couldn’t be any faster think again. There is a package in the universe called preload which “monitors applications that users run, and by analyzing this data, predicts what applications users might run, and fetches those binaries and their dependencies into memory for faster startup times.” It runs as a daemon in the background so it is unobtrusive to your desktop. Fire up your terminal and enter:
“sudo apt-get install preload”
Bottom line, if you run Firefox, GAIM, and VLC everyday for example, preload will determine these are common applications and will keep the libraries in your RAM before you even load them up - this leads to a faster startup time. Preload is smart enough to determine if you change your habits too ;).

Note: Preload is different from prelink which can harm your system if used incorrectly.
Microsoft does this also…when you hover over the top of an icon in your quicklaunch, Windows will preload the dll for you.
Good to see Ubuntu moving toward their agreement with Microsoft (forthcoming?)
[...] Vía: sheehantu [...]
devnet - thanks for commenting on my blog. I’m glad to hear that Windows does this as well, is this new in Vista? Operating systems are becoming more and more advanced paving the way for new innovations.
I’m not sure if Ubuntu is part of the Microsoft/Novell deal. I believe Microsoft has an agreement with a couple of distros, Linspire and SuSe to work on open standards between Windows and Linux. This would be a great thing to see if both parties have good intentions.
Vista does preloading as well which is a good step.
For the record, Ubuntu is not part of any microsoft/linux agreement and has no plans ever to sign a deal with them. These rumors floating around are just that, rumors, nothing more.
sweet, I’ve just recently started playing with ubuntu, and I’ve begun to really like it. So much so that I feel out of place when using a windows box again. (when I was younger I used to really be into linux, then I started playing MMO’s and, well, yeah.)
I’ll be checking back for any more cool Linux stuff you may happen to come across.
No negotiations with Microsoft in progress:
http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/127
“We have declined to discuss any agreement with Microsoft under the threat of unspecified patent infringements.”
Joe - glad to know that my post has helped you out! I feel the same way as you when I go back to a Windows box - unfamiliar. It just seems Ubuntu is so much snappier, and work actually gets done quicker ;).
[...] Preload is widely available in most repositories and works with all distros. Preload [Sourceforge via sheehantu] [...]
[...] Preload is widely available in most repositories and works with all distros. Preload [Sourceforge via sheehantu] [...]
[...] Preload is widely available in most repositories and works with all distros. Preload [Sourceforge via sheehantu] [...]
[...] Preload is widely available in most repositories and works with all distros. Preload [Sourceforge via sheehantu] [...]
[...] Preload is widely available in most repositories and works with all distros. Preload [Sourceforge via sheehantu] [...]
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Macintosh Library Modules
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