When the window is not fully open, your TCP stack is doing more than you think

This blog post delves into the Linux networking stack, specifically focusing on memory and window management of the receiving side of a TCP connection. The author investigates how much data can be stored in the TCP receive buffer and how fast it can be filled. The exploration focuses on the receiving side of the TCP connection to understand how to tune it for optimal speed without wasting precious memory. The post discusses various factors affecting the receive buffer, such as metadata cost, window scaling, and coalescing mechanisms. It also highlights the importance of managing the memory budget effectively to avoid packet loss and latency spikes.