[sldev] Bidding System Algorithm for Allocation Script Memory

[Darrius Gothly]

Suggestion: A "Bidding System" for allocating memory resources on a Sim.

When a script attempts to load and needs to allocate a chunk of memory, it 
places a "bid" for that amount of memory. If the amount it needs is freely 
available, the bid is filled and the script runs as expected.

However, if the amount of memory is not freely available (meaning the Sim is 
currently at max for script memory), this forces an "Auction". All scripts 
currently on the Sim must place a bid for the amount of memory requested. 
The "price" of their bid is calculated based on their current parcel's 
memory usage relative to its maximum usage (expressed as a percentage such 
that a maxxed out parcel would return 0%, a totally unused parcel would 
return 100%, and an overlimit parcel would return a negative percentage) and 
the size of their parcel in sqm. I'm sure there's some multiplier there that 
would assure even small parcels that have used virtually none of their 
resources always bid a higher price than other parcels that are near their 
limit.

In this system, even Avatar attachment scripts would "bid" accordingly. 
There could be an additional multiplier applied to the Avatar's bid price to 
assure they get slightly higher advantage in the auction though.

After all, Sims tend to be pretty static with respect to how many scripts 
are running .. when you count only the scripts in objects on the Sim. When 
you toss in the variable of Avatars and their attachments, that's when 
things start varying wildly.

The last issue is .. what happens to the "losers" in the auction? My best 
suggestion is they get "checkpointed" .. swapped out and put in stasis until 
such time as they can win another auction. As memory is released (like when 
an Avatar leaves a Sim) the memory freed up could be placed at auction, and 
only checkpointed scripts allowed to bid.