[Cialug] SOT: Classic Computer Science trade-offs

[Eric Junker]

On 5/25/2012 2:00 PM, Nathan C. Smith wrote:
>
> It seemed to me there were some classic computer science trade-offs.  The three I remember specifically are: time, space and cost.  For instance, you could do something faster at greater cost (dollars or CPU) .   With more space you can do things faster, but at greater cost for memory or CPU.
>
> Does this sound familiar?  Is there a simple computer science phrase that reflects these trade-offs?  Does anyone remember them differently?
>
> I always fall back to you can have it good, fast or cheap, pick two.  But that wasn't coined for C.S. though it works pretty well for project work.
>
> Are there other tradeoffs you think about often in whatever work you do?

I usually hear it referred to as a "time-memory tradeoff".  I found 
these relevant articles on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space%E2%80%93time_tradeoff

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management_triangle

Eric