Lua Notes

Performance

Implicit boolean vs equality comparison (100,000,000 iterations).

if mode then -> 1.23 sec.
if mode == true then -> 1.42 sec.
if mode == "one" then -> 1.44 sec.

True vs false branch path (100,000,000 iterations).

if x then false branch 0.2 sec faster than true branch.
not is insignificant; negligible difference between if x then vs if not x then when following the same branch path.

Cache table value in local var (100,000,000 iterations).

x = x + t.longer_name.pinky unconditional -> 2.0 sec.
x = x + t.longer_name.pinky true branch path w/no else block -> 2.4 sec.
x = x + t.longer_name.pinky true branch path w/an else block -> 2.7 sec.
x = x + t.longer_name.pinky false branch path -> 2.5 sec.
x = x + cached unconditional -> 0.68 sec.
x = x + cached true branch path w/no else block -> 0.98 sec.
x = x + cached true branch path w/an else block -> 1.24 sec.
x = x + cached false branch path -> 1.18 sec.