# One Big-ass Org File or multiple tiny ones?  Finally, the End of the debate!
Leo Vivier

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.