From: Robert Jackson <robert.w.jackson@...>
Date: 2013-03-19T02:13:03+09:00
Subject: Re: Copy-on-write


On Mar 18, 2013, at 12:03 PM, Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> wrote:

> It sounds as if you were mixing OS and Ruby features.  If the OS
> implements this *all* processes benefit from it - regardless of
> implementation.

True, but ruby's garbage collector up until 2.0.0-p0 used a mark and sweep algorithm that completely obviated the capability of COW friendly OS's (because every object was 'written' during each GC run).

In 2.0.0-p0 the garbage collector is implemented in such a way as to allow copy on write.

Links:

* http://patshaughnessy.net/2012/3/23/why-you-should-be-excited-about-garbage-collection-in-ruby-2-0
* http://benhoskin.gs/2013/02/24/getting-to-know-ruby-2-0
* https://blog.heroku.com/archives/2013/3/6/matz_highlights_ruby_2_0_at_waza