Intruiging. I've had the phrase "abstraction tax" in my head for a while, and was about to use it in a report, so I thought I'd see if I could find out who else used it. Google doesn't help if water-related uses are eliminated.
The idea I'm referring to is that, at least in naive implementations, the use of layers of abstraction in software carries a performance penalty. The argument I'm making is that generative programming — through Lisp style macros, for example, or, in the case I am discussing, by generating, compiling, and installing code at run time — provides an opportunity to sidestep it.
If anyone knows of this or another phrase being used in this way, do let me know.
The phrase just popped in my head as well when I was evaluating a design doc. I think it is a great description of the additional cost that adding abstractions heaps on a system. I'm surprised it hasn't caught on.
Posted by: Andy Brummer | September 26, 2007 at 04:23 PM