Optimizing optimizing: some insights that led to a 400% speedup of PowerDNS - Bert Hubert's writings
a day ago
- Performance optimization requires a mindset shift and systematic approach, not just writing better code.
- Avoid broad, unscientific advice like avoiding STL or exceptions; focus on project-specific profiling.
- After initial easy wins, further improvements require deep analysis via call-graph profiling, not just flat profiles.
- Modern compilers, CPUs, and OSes often outsmart manual optimizations, so avoid premature optimization.
- The most impactful optimization is reducing work: 'do less' by understanding what your code truly needs.
- Small incremental speedups (e.g., 15%) compound significantly after other optimizations, leading to exponential returns.
- Super-heroic micro-optimizations are rare and project-specific; leverage existing fast libraries instead.