Comments on workstation operating systems and virtual memory

The current state and future development of virtual memory with particular reference to workstations, is discussed. The author considers the usefulness of virtual memory, exploring what has changed in software and hardware since virtual memory was introduced. Programs are loosely divided into three categories, and the usefulness of virtual memory is assessed for each category. The costs in speed, product development, space, and money are discussed. The author deals with the question of what piece of software should be responsible for virtual memory decisions. He concludes that the user, programmer, or programming environment are better suited to provide this function than the operating system