path: root/2020/info/12.md

Many discussions have been had over the years on the debate between
using few big files versus many small files.  However, more often than
not, those discussions devolve in a collection of anecdotes with
barely any science to them.

Once and for all (or, at least until org-element.el get overhauled), I
would like to settle the debate by explaining why the way we parse
Org-mode files becomes slower as our files grow in size or numbers,
and how that affects their browsing and the building of custom-agenda
views.

I feel qualified to talk about this topic for two reasons:

-   I went through the trouble of optimising my agenda-views by
    implementing clever regex-based skips, so I know the ceiling that
    can be reached with the current tech.
-   My work on Org-roam has led me to consider the use of an external
    parser for Org-mode files, and whilst we are only at the prototyping
    stage, we know what is at stake.

I intend the talk to be fairly light-hearted and humorous, which is the
only way we can do true justice to the topic.