Honestly, how does Reaper manage to perform so well?

Having followed REAPER since it was still in alpha/beta back in 2005-2006 and a registered user since the v1.0 release, I would have to say it is down to the vision of the main coder Justin Frankel and his unique programming skills. He coded REAPER from the ground up to be a streamlined and efficient DAW app. He does not rely on any OS routines/libraries/code like most other DAW's and just creates his own as needed. That is why it only takes a few seconds to download, install and even update. Because it does not rely on the OS, you can even run REAPER straight from a thumb drive. It is totally self-contained and the small 10MB installer has everything you need to run the app on it's own. While many other DAW apps are focused on keeping their legacy code working as they add new features and whiz bang graphic eye candy, Justin continued to concentrate on keeping the underlying code in REAPER as streamlined and efficient as possible. Justin's mantra has been that eye candy and extraneous features (adding fancy graphics, useless loop libraries, even more plugins and such) is secondary to stability and efficiency in a DAW app. There have been countless DAW app benchmark tests done over the years and REAPER has consistently been at or near the top in all of them. Those of us that have used REAPER over the years have known this for a long time now.
So when others say that the REAPER GUI is ugly or how can a full featured DAW app be so inexpensive (some even think it is free) and be any good or considered "Pro", you can only roll your eyes at their ignorance. 
 
Here is an interesting video interview with Justin Frankel from 2015 that gives some insight into his ethos and how REAPER came to be.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfaQrOeb_F0
 

I have also read that Justin uses older Borland C++ compilers on parts of the audio engine, to keep from introducing lots of overhead for things that will never be used. The same code compiled with a Dot Net version of C++ would add boatloads of extra junk in case we might need the audio engine to stream audio from the internet or something.
 
I used to subcontract a guy to program custom stuff for the company I used to work for and he did the same thing. His applets that he coded for me were always tiny, completely independent of any runtime libraries, and dragster fast.

Billy Buck
Having followed REAPER since it was still in alpha/beta back in 2005-2006 and a registered user since the v1.0 release, I would have to say it is down to the vision of the main coder Justin Frankel and his unique programming skills. He coded REAPER from the ground up to be a streamlined and efficient DAW app. He does not rely on any OS routines/libraries/code like most other DAW's and just creates his own as needed. That is why it only takes a few seconds to download, install and even update. Because it does not rely on the OS, you can even run REAPER straight from a thumb drive. It is totally self-contained and the small 10MB installer has everything you need to run the app on it's own. While many other DAW apps are focused on keeping their legacy code working as they add new features and whiz bang graphic eye candy, Justin continued to concentrate on keeping the underlying code in REAPER as streamlined and efficient as possible. Justin's mantra has been that eye candy and extraneous features (adding fancy graphics, useless loop libraries, even more plugins and such) is secondary to stability and efficiency in a DAW app. There have been countless DAW app benchmark tests done over the years and REAPER has consistently been at or near the top in all of them. Those of us that have used REAPER over the years have known this for a long time now.
So when others say that the REAPER GUI is ugly or how can a full featured DAW app be so inexpensive (some even think it is free) and be any good or considered "Pro", you can only roll your eyes at their ignorance. 
 
Here is an interesting video interview with Justin Frankel from 2015 that gives some insight into his ethos and how REAPER came to be.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfaQrOeb_F0
 

Very interesting insight, thanks.

emwhy
I'm just waiting on them to integrate ARA 2 some time later this yearn which they have said is coming.

This is exactly the flaw of Reaper for me (for Melodyne). But on the other hand I like their efficient code, the configuration possibilities and their licensing!

sharke

jude77
I have to admit (to my own shame) the first time I tried Reaper I dismissed it out of hand.  And then SONAR did it's thing, and now I'm trying Reaper again.  As stated above this thing is pretty amazing.  It feels like the learning curve is steeeeeeeep, but maybe that's just me.  Still for $60 . . . .  Plus, you can make the darn look just like the REDD desk from back in the day at Abbey Road.  Reaper is definitely a force to be reckoned with.  

I'm actually finding it easier to learn than other DAW's. Kenny Gioia's excellent "Reaper Mania" channel on YouTube helps a lot.

I'll check it out.  Many thanks for the heads-up.

We need DAW police!

Jim Roseberry
As trite as it may sound... Reaper is the closest you'll find to a single DAW that's, "All things to everyone."
It's amazing just how close it comes to that ideal.
 

It lacks ARA support. Until then......it's 99 and 99/100% pure. Like Ivory soap.

Actually it's 99 44/100%