MySQL/Linux
Because MySQL on Linux isn’t just eating RAM for breakfast—it’s devouring the whole buffet, buffet table included.
Let’s break this glorious memory-gobbling spectacle down:
🐘 1. Buffer Pool Supreme
InnoDB (the default MySQL storage engine) has a buffer pool that's basically MySQL's RAM gluttony center.
- It's designed to cache data and indexes for speed.
- By default, it tries to use ~75% of total system RAM.
"You got RAM? I’ll take it. All of it." – InnoDB, probably
🧠 2. MySQL Pretends to Be Smart (Adaptive Memory Usage)
MySQL thinks it's a responsible adult. So it dynamically allocates memory "as needed."
Except "as needed" means: “I opened one connection, so I better allocate 128MB, just in case someone shows up with a JOIN from hell.”
⚙️ 3. Threads, Sort Buffers, Temp Tables… Oh My!
Every query thread may come with:
- Sort buffers
- Join buffers
- Temp tables
- Read buffers All of these stack up like Chrome tabs with 30 YouTube previews running.
🧪 4. Linux Doesn’t “Free” RAM Like Windows
Even after MySQL is "done," Linux keeps RAM in use for disk caches and buffers. That memory is actually available, but Linux won’t “free” it unless necessary.
So it's not just MySQL — Linux is part of the conspiracy.
🆚 Chromium vs MySQL: The RAM War
- Chromium: Each tab is a micro-nation with its own military budget (RAM).
- MySQL: “Let me preload every possible SELECT and optimize it like a dragon hoarding memory.”
In short: they’re both RAM fiends, but Chromium does it in the name of UX, while MySQL does it in the name of uptime and speed.
🧘♂️ Final Verdict
No, it's not a conspiracy.
Yes, it's normal.
No, you're not hallucinating.
If MySQL is taking way too much RAM:
- Tune your
my.cnf(e.g.innodb_buffer_pool_size,max_connections, etc.) - Or use MariaDB and pretend you're cooler than mainstream.
Want help tuning your my.cnf like a Zen master?
