Optimize static embedded strings

ID:2686435
 
May 26 2021, 8:32 am
Applies to:Dream Maker
Status: Open
Issue hasn't been assigned a status value.
Would it be possible to have the compiler do an optimization step to flatten static strings embedded in other strings? For example, 
"this is ["sparta"]"
takes nearly twice as long at runtime than 
"this is sparta"


Example benchmark code (which also shows why this would be helpful, the SPAN macro)
/world
    loop_checks = 0

#define BENCHTM(NAME, ITERS, CODE) \
    do{ \
        var/s = world.tick_usage ;\
        for(var/j = 1 to 1000000) {\
        for(var/i = 1 to (ITERS)) {\
            CODE ;\
        } ;\
        } ;\
        var/e = world.tick_usage ;\
        world.log << "[NAME]: [(e-s) * world.tick_lag] ms" ;\
    } while(0)

#define SPAN_WARNING(X) "<span class='warning'>[X]</span>"

/proc/build_text_native()
    . = "<span class='warning'>meow</span>"

/proc/build_text_compiler()
    . = SPAN_WARNING("meow")

/proc/build_why_no_optimize()
    . = "<span class='warning'>["meow"]</span>"

/proc/main()
    BENCHTM("native", 10, world << build_text_native())
    BENCHTM("compiler", 10, world << build_text_compiler())
    BENCHTM("the fuck", 10, world << build_why_no_optimize())


Benchmark results:
Jul 15 2022, 9:48 am
I've actually been giving this some thought, but I think in a case of string concatenation there's a way you can have what you want more readily. Specifically, if you use ("before" + middle + "after") instead of "before[middle]after", the compiler can easily handle this with constant strings.

But, I suspect the reason you want this is so you can use the same macro with non-constant stuff, so I totally get that.

I've actually been looking into the problem and I suspect this might be something I could work into the beta series for 515.