Anonymous
the 485 MB swap remained “in use” even after I closed GIMP. I don’t know if that’s normal
That behavior is governed by the parameter vm.vfs_cache_pressure value stated in /etc/sysctl.conf
and you can tweak it to better suit your usage. (websearch “linux swap sysctl.conf” will find various, often conflicting, tutorials advising what values are “best”.)
enough to be usable. That is, until the browser opens.
Aye. Several forum topics here contain tips and suggestions regarding alternative web browsers.
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PSA:
“javascript” (aka ECMAScript) is not Java.
Firefox web browser can only accommodate “Java” via a plugin (e.g. the “IcedTea” plugin).
FWIW, when setting up a new linux system, I immediately disable + uninstall “IcedTea” if it has been pre-installed.
Also FWIW ~~ none of the sites I’ve visited throughout the past decade have been “broken” due to the absence of Java plugin.