How do I reduce allocations in hot paths?

Reducing allocations in hot paths is a crucial optimization strategy in Go, particularly in performance-sensitive applications. Here are some techniques to achieve this:

  • Use Sync.Pool: Go's `sync.Pool` allows you to reuse objects instead of allocating new ones. This reduces the number of allocations and helps avoid garbage collection pauses.
  • Avoid Memory Allocations in Loops: Try to allocate memory outside of loops whenever possible. For instance, if you're creating slices or maps, initialize them before the loop and reuse them.
  • Use Value Types Instead of Pointers: If the struct is small and frequently used, consider using it as a value type instead of a pointer to reduce heap allocations.
  • Preallocate Slices: Use `make` to allocate slices with an exact size upfront, avoiding dynamic resizing during append operations.
  • In-place Modifications: Instead of creating new objects that modify existing ones, try to modify items in-place when possible.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce memory allocations in your Go programs.


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