Always measure and document the impact of performance optimizations before implementing them. When making optimization decisions, quantify the benefits (size reduction, speed improvement) against the costs (build time, code complexity, maintainability).
Key practices:
Example from compiler optimizations:
# Measured impact: 10kb size reduction
-fno-exceptions -fno-rtti # Disables C++ features for size savings
-flto # Link-time optimization for performance (2x build time)
Example from memory optimization:
// Before: 12 bytes overhead per node (4 + 8 bytes)
struct YGNode {
uint32_t gDepth = 0; // 4 bytes per node
YGNodeRef pRoot = nullptr; // 8 bytes per node
};
// After: Pass values through function parameters instead
void calculateLayout(YGNode* node, uint32_t depth, uint32_t generation);
This approach ensures optimizations provide real value and helps teams make informed decisions about performance trade-offs.
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