microoptimisations

Microoptimizations are small, localized code changes that aim to improve the performance of a specific part of a program. These changes are often subtle and may involve things like choosing a slightly faster algorithm for a small task, optimizing loop structures, or reducing memory allocations. The goal is to squeeze out every possible bit of speed from a particular section of code.

While microoptimizations can sometimes lead to noticeable performance gains, especially in performance-critical sections of software, they often come with drawbacks. One of the main concerns is that microoptimizations can make code harder to read and understand, sacrificing clarity for marginal speed improvements. This can lead to increased maintenance costs and a higher likelihood of introducing bugs. Furthermore, modern compilers and hardware are very good at optimizing code automatically, meaning that manual microoptimizations might be redundant or even counterproductive. In many cases, focusing on algorithmic improvements or higher-level architectural changes will yield much greater performance benefits than microoptimizations. Therefore, microoptimizations are typically employed only after profiling has identified a specific bottleneck and other optimization strategies have been exhausted.