[m463]

> It seems there are two distinct branches of computing emerging - one where performance matters, and one where it doesn't.

The thing is - there is no need to address performance if it does not matter. That would lead you to Knuth:

"The real problem is that programmers have spent far too much time worrying about efficiency in the wrong places and at the wrong times; premature optimization is the root of all evil (or at least most of it) in programming." - Knuth

So I think there is actually a dial: if performance matters you turn it one way and optimize as necessary; if it doesn't go onto the next project that is fighting to get out of your head.

[chridou]

Please do not take this (Knuths statement) out of context. It is necessary read the whole text to understand this sentence. It has nothing to do with whether performance matters.

[wolfi1]

but sometimes performance is dependent upon your framework, so before you start you will need to know your quantity structure