Tweaking Linux

This article was created for Linux users to share tips and tricks with each other.

General tweaks

Use tcmalloc/jemalloc instead of Glibc malloc

Warning: this is NOT recommended and may cause segfaults IF your piece of software statically links a malloc implementation. Doing it on a per-program basis is safer.

Glibc's malloc is not as performant or scalable as tcmalloc, or even jemalloc. You can expect some small to massive performance gains¹, depending on your workload, by forcing software to use your memory allocator of choice.

To do this, use your preferred editor to create:

/etc/ld.so.preload

/usr/lib/lib*.so

... where * is either jemalloc, or tcmalloc.

Tip: to start a program once with your preferred implementation of malloc, issue LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/lib*.so program using the terminal.

Xorg server

Disable mouse acceleration in X

In order to disable mouse acceleration use your text editor of choice to create:

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-mouse-acceleration.conf

Section "InputClass"
  Identifier "My Mouse"
  Option "AccelerationNumerator" "1"
  Option "AccelerationDenominator" "1"
  Option "AccelerationThreshold" "0"
EndSection

Your config file will take effect the next time you start X.