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I haven't checked how much RAM nhc98 needs for bootstrapping recently, but the Makefile suggests 16Mb of heap + 2Mb of stack is more than sufficient - it could probably manage with less.

If it was possible to save resources in these days - why isn't it possible today anymore? Too many Haskell extensions? Too much auxiliary code for interfacing with OS? Increased safety?

Simply that more people care about speed than about space. Regards, Malcolm