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python-performance-optimization

Profile and optimize Python code using cProfile, memory profilers, and performance best practices. Use when debugging slow Python code, optimizing bottlenecks, or improving application performance.

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Python Performance Optimization

Comprehensive guide to profiling, analyzing, and optimizing Python code for better performance, including CPU profiling, memory optimization, and implementation best practices.

When to Use This Skill

  • Identifying performance bottlenecks in Python applications
  • Reducing application latency and response times
  • Optimizing CPU-intensive operations
  • Reducing memory consumption and memory leaks
  • Improving database query performance
  • Optimizing I/O operations
  • Speeding up data processing pipelines
  • Implementing high-performance algorithms
  • Profiling production applications

Core Concepts

1. Profiling Types

  • CPU Profiling: Identify time-consuming functions
  • Memory Profiling: Track memory allocation and leaks
  • Line Profiling: Profile at line-by-line granularity
  • Call Graph: Visualize function call relationships

2. Performance Metrics

  • Execution Time: How long operations take
  • Memory Usage: Peak and average memory consumption
  • CPU Utilization: Processor usage patterns
  • I/O Wait: Time spent on I/O operations

3. Optimization Strategies

  • Algorithmic: Better algorithms and data structures
  • Implementation: More efficient code patterns
  • Parallelization: Multi-threading/processing
  • Caching: Avoid redundant computation
  • Native Extensions: C/Rust for critical paths

Quick Start

Basic Timing

import time

def measure_time():
    """Simple timing measurement."""
    start = time.time()

    # Your code here
    result = sum(range(1000000))

    elapsed = time.time() - start
    print(f"Execution time: {elapsed:.4f} seconds")
    return result

# Better: use timeit for accurate measurements
import timeit

execution_time = timeit.timeit(
    "sum(range(1000000))",
    number=100
)
print(f"Average time: {execution_time/100:.6f} seconds")

Detailed patterns and worked examples

Detailed pattern documentation lives in references/details.md. Read that file when the navigation tier above is insufficient.

Best Practices

  1. Profile before optimizing - Measure to find real bottlenecks
  2. Focus on hot paths - Optimize code that runs most frequently
  3. Use appropriate data structures - Dict for lookups, set for membership
  4. Avoid premature optimization - Clarity first, then optimize
  5. Use built-in functions - They're implemented in C
  6. Cache expensive computations - Use lru_cache
  7. Batch I/O operations - Reduce system calls
  8. Use generators for large datasets
  9. Consider NumPy for numerical operations
  10. Profile production code - Use py-spy for live systems

Common Pitfalls

  • Optimizing without profiling
  • Using global variables unnecessarily
  • Not using appropriate data structures
  • Creating unnecessary copies of data
  • Not using connection pooling for databases
  • Ignoring algorithmic complexity
  • Over-optimizing rare code paths
  • Not considering memory usage
Files (agents)
  • references
    • advanced-patterns.md 10.3 KB
      # Python Performance Optimization — Advanced Reference
      
      Advanced optimization techniques including NumPy vectorization, caching, memory management, parallelization, async I/O, database optimization, and benchmarking tools.
      
      ## Advanced Optimization
      
      ### Pattern 11: NumPy for Numerical Operations
      
      ```python
      import timeit
      import numpy as np
      
      def python_sum(n):
          """Sum using pure Python."""
          return sum(range(n))
      
      def numpy_sum(n):
          """Sum using NumPy."""
          return np.arange(n).sum()
      
      n = 1000000
      
      python_time = timeit.timeit(lambda: python_sum(n), number=100)
      numpy_time = timeit.timeit(lambda: numpy_sum(n), number=100)
      
      print(f"Python: {python_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"NumPy: {numpy_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"Speedup: {python_time/numpy_time:.2f}x")
      
      # Vectorized operations
      def python_multiply():
          """Element-wise multiplication in Python."""
          a = list(range(100000))
          b = list(range(100000))
          return [x * y for x, y in zip(a, b)]
      
      def numpy_multiply():
          """Vectorized multiplication in NumPy."""
          a = np.arange(100000)
          b = np.arange(100000)
          return a * b
      
      py_time = timeit.timeit(python_multiply, number=100)
      np_time = timeit.timeit(numpy_multiply, number=100)
      
      print(f"\nPython multiply: {py_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"NumPy multiply: {np_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"Speedup: {py_time/np_time:.2f}x")
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 12: Caching with functools.lru_cache
      
      ```python
      from functools import lru_cache
      import timeit
      
      def fibonacci_slow(n):
          """Recursive fibonacci without caching."""
          if n < 2:
              return n
          return fibonacci_slow(n-1) + fibonacci_slow(n-2)
      
      @lru_cache(maxsize=None)
      def fibonacci_fast(n):
          """Recursive fibonacci with caching."""
          if n < 2:
              return n
          return fibonacci_fast(n-1) + fibonacci_fast(n-2)
      
      # Massive speedup for recursive algorithms
      n = 30
      
      slow_time = timeit.timeit(lambda: fibonacci_slow(n), number=1)
      fast_time = timeit.timeit(lambda: fibonacci_fast(n), number=1000)
      
      print(f"Without cache (1 run): {slow_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"With cache (1000 runs): {fast_time:.4f}s")
      
      # Cache info
      print(f"Cache info: {fibonacci_fast.cache_info()}")
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 13: Using __slots__ for Memory
      
      ```python
      import sys
      
      class RegularClass:
          """Regular class with __dict__."""
          def __init__(self, x, y, z):
              self.x = x
              self.y = y
              self.z = z
      
      class SlottedClass:
          """Class with __slots__ for memory efficiency."""
          __slots__ = ['x', 'y', 'z']
      
          def __init__(self, x, y, z):
              self.x = x
              self.y = y
              self.z = z
      
      # Memory comparison
      regular = RegularClass(1, 2, 3)
      slotted = SlottedClass(1, 2, 3)
      
      print(f"Regular class size: {sys.getsizeof(regular)} bytes")
      print(f"Slotted class size: {sys.getsizeof(slotted)} bytes")
      
      # Significant savings with many instances
      regular_objects = [RegularClass(i, i+1, i+2) for i in range(10000)]
      slotted_objects = [SlottedClass(i, i+1, i+2) for i in range(10000)]
      
      print(f"\nMemory for 10000 regular objects: ~{sys.getsizeof(regular) * 10000} bytes")
      print(f"Memory for 10000 slotted objects: ~{sys.getsizeof(slotted) * 10000} bytes")
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 14: Multiprocessing for CPU-Bound Tasks
      
      ```python
      import multiprocessing as mp
      import time
      
      def cpu_intensive_task(n):
          """CPU-intensive calculation."""
          return sum(i**2 for i in range(n))
      
      def sequential_processing():
          """Process tasks sequentially."""
          start = time.time()
          results = [cpu_intensive_task(1000000) for _ in range(4)]
          elapsed = time.time() - start
          return elapsed, results
      
      def parallel_processing():
          """Process tasks in parallel."""
          start = time.time()
          with mp.Pool(processes=4) as pool:
              results = pool.map(cpu_intensive_task, [1000000] * 4)
          elapsed = time.time() - start
          return elapsed, results
      
      if __name__ == "__main__":
          seq_time, seq_results = sequential_processing()
          par_time, par_results = parallel_processing()
      
          print(f"Sequential: {seq_time:.2f}s")
          print(f"Parallel: {par_time:.2f}s")
          print(f"Speedup: {seq_time/par_time:.2f}x")
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 15: Async I/O for I/O-Bound Tasks
      
      ```python
      import asyncio
      import aiohttp
      import time
      import requests
      
      urls = [
          "https://httpbin.org/delay/1",
          "https://httpbin.org/delay/1",
          "https://httpbin.org/delay/1",
          "https://httpbin.org/delay/1",
      ]
      
      def synchronous_requests():
          """Synchronous HTTP requests."""
          start = time.time()
          results = []
          for url in urls:
              response = requests.get(url)
              results.append(response.status_code)
          elapsed = time.time() - start
          return elapsed, results
      
      async def async_fetch(session, url):
          """Async HTTP request."""
          async with session.get(url) as response:
              return response.status
      
      async def asynchronous_requests():
          """Asynchronous HTTP requests."""
          start = time.time()
          async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session:
              tasks = [async_fetch(session, url) for url in urls]
              results = await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
          elapsed = time.time() - start
          return elapsed, results
      
      # Async is much faster for I/O-bound work
      sync_time, sync_results = synchronous_requests()
      async_time, async_results = asyncio.run(asynchronous_requests())
      
      print(f"Synchronous: {sync_time:.2f}s")
      print(f"Asynchronous: {async_time:.2f}s")
      print(f"Speedup: {sync_time/async_time:.2f}x")
      ```
      
      ## Database Optimization
      
      ### Pattern 16: Batch Database Operations
      
      ```python
      import sqlite3
      import time
      
      def create_db():
          """Create test database."""
          conn = sqlite3.connect(":memory:")
          conn.execute("CREATE TABLE users (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT)")
          return conn
      
      def slow_inserts(conn, count):
          """Insert records one at a time."""
          start = time.time()
          cursor = conn.cursor()
          for i in range(count):
              cursor.execute("INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES (?)", (f"User {i}",))
              conn.commit()  # Commit each insert
          elapsed = time.time() - start
          return elapsed
      
      def fast_inserts(conn, count):
          """Batch insert with single commit."""
          start = time.time()
          cursor = conn.cursor()
          data = [(f"User {i}",) for i in range(count)]
          cursor.executemany("INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES (?)", data)
          conn.commit()  # Single commit
          elapsed = time.time() - start
          return elapsed
      
      # Benchmark
      conn1 = create_db()
      slow_time = slow_inserts(conn1, 1000)
      
      conn2 = create_db()
      fast_time = fast_inserts(conn2, 1000)
      
      print(f"Individual inserts: {slow_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"Batch insert: {fast_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"Speedup: {slow_time/fast_time:.2f}x")
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 17: Query Optimization
      
      ```python
      # Use indexes for frequently queried columns
      """
      -- Slow: No index
      SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = 'user@example.com';
      
      -- Fast: With index
      CREATE INDEX idx_users_email ON users(email);
      SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = 'user@example.com';
      """
      
      # Use query planning
      import sqlite3
      
      conn = sqlite3.connect("example.db")
      cursor = conn.cursor()
      
      # Analyze query performance
      cursor.execute("EXPLAIN QUERY PLAN SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = ?", ("test@example.com",))
      print(cursor.fetchall())
      
      # Use SELECT only needed columns
      # Slow: SELECT *
      # Fast: SELECT id, name
      ```
      
      ## Memory Optimization
      
      ### Pattern 18: Detecting Memory Leaks
      
      ```python
      import tracemalloc
      import gc
      
      def memory_leak_example():
          """Example that leaks memory."""
          leaked_objects = []
      
          for i in range(100000):
              # Objects added but never removed
              leaked_objects.append([i] * 100)
      
          # In real code, this would be an unintended reference
      
      def track_memory_usage():
          """Track memory allocations."""
          tracemalloc.start()
      
          # Take snapshot before
          snapshot1 = tracemalloc.take_snapshot()
      
          # Run code
          memory_leak_example()
      
          # Take snapshot after
          snapshot2 = tracemalloc.take_snapshot()
      
          # Compare
          top_stats = snapshot2.compare_to(snapshot1, 'lineno')
      
          print("Top 10 memory allocations:")
          for stat in top_stats[:10]:
              print(stat)
      
          tracemalloc.stop()
      
      # Monitor memory
      track_memory_usage()
      
      # Force garbage collection
      gc.collect()
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 19: Iterators vs Lists
      
      ```python
      import sys
      
      def process_file_list(filename):
          """Load entire file into memory."""
          with open(filename) as f:
              lines = f.readlines()  # Loads all lines
              return sum(1 for line in lines if line.strip())
      
      def process_file_iterator(filename):
          """Process file line by line."""
          with open(filename) as f:
              return sum(1 for line in f if line.strip())
      
      # Iterator uses constant memory
      # List loads entire file into memory
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 20: Weakref for Caches
      
      ```python
      import weakref
      
      class CachedResource:
          """Resource that can be garbage collected."""
          def __init__(self, data):
              self.data = data
      
      # Regular cache prevents garbage collection
      regular_cache = {}
      
      def get_resource_regular(key):
          """Get resource from regular cache."""
          if key not in regular_cache:
              regular_cache[key] = CachedResource(f"Data for {key}")
          return regular_cache[key]
      
      # Weak reference cache allows garbage collection
      weak_cache = weakref.WeakValueDictionary()
      
      def get_resource_weak(key):
          """Get resource from weak cache."""
          resource = weak_cache.get(key)
          if resource is None:
              resource = CachedResource(f"Data for {key}")
              weak_cache[key] = resource
          return resource
      
      # When no strong references exist, objects can be GC'd
      ```
      
      ## Benchmarking Tools
      
      ### Custom Benchmark Decorator
      
      ```python
      import time
      from functools import wraps
      
      def benchmark(func):
          """Decorator to benchmark function execution."""
          @wraps(func)
          def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
              start = time.perf_counter()
              result = func(*args, **kwargs)
              elapsed = time.perf_counter() - start
              print(f"{func.__name__} took {elapsed:.6f} seconds")
              return result
          return wrapper
      
      @benchmark
      def slow_function():
          """Function to benchmark."""
          time.sleep(0.5)
          return sum(range(1000000))
      
      result = slow_function()
      ```
      
      ### Performance Testing with pytest-benchmark
      
      ```python
      # Install: pip install pytest-benchmark
      
      def test_list_comprehension(benchmark):
          """Benchmark list comprehension."""
          result = benchmark(lambda: [i**2 for i in range(10000)])
          assert len(result) == 10000
      
      def test_map_function(benchmark):
          """Benchmark map function."""
          result = benchmark(lambda: list(map(lambda x: x**2, range(10000))))
          assert len(result) == 10000
      
      # Run with: pytest test_performance.py --benchmark-compare
      ```
      
    • details.md 7.3 KB
      # python-performance-optimization — detailed patterns and worked examples
      
      ## Profiling Tools
      
      ### Pattern 1: cProfile - CPU Profiling
      
      ```python
      import cProfile
      import pstats
      from pstats import SortKey
      
      def slow_function():
          """Function to profile."""
          total = 0
          for i in range(1000000):
              total += i
          return total
      
      def another_function():
          """Another function."""
          return [i**2 for i in range(100000)]
      
      def main():
          """Main function to profile."""
          result1 = slow_function()
          result2 = another_function()
          return result1, result2
      
      # Profile the code
      if __name__ == "__main__":
          profiler = cProfile.Profile()
          profiler.enable()
      
          main()
      
          profiler.disable()
      
          # Print stats
          stats = pstats.Stats(profiler)
          stats.sort_stats(SortKey.CUMULATIVE)
          stats.print_stats(10)  # Top 10 functions
      
          # Save to file for later analysis
          stats.dump_stats("profile_output.prof")
      ```
      
      **Command-line profiling:**
      
      ```bash
      # Profile a script
      python -m cProfile -o output.prof script.py
      
      # View results
      python -m pstats output.prof
      # In pstats:
      # sort cumtime
      # stats 10
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 2: line_profiler - Line-by-Line Profiling
      
      ```python
      # Install: pip install line-profiler
      
      # Add @profile decorator (line_profiler provides this)
      @profile
      def process_data(data):
          """Process data with line profiling."""
          result = []
          for item in data:
              processed = item * 2
              result.append(processed)
          return result
      
      # Run with:
      # kernprof -l -v script.py
      ```
      
      **Manual line profiling:**
      
      ```python
      from line_profiler import LineProfiler
      
      def process_data(data):
          """Function to profile."""
          result = []
          for item in data:
              processed = item * 2
              result.append(processed)
          return result
      
      if __name__ == "__main__":
          lp = LineProfiler()
          lp.add_function(process_data)
      
          data = list(range(100000))
      
          lp_wrapper = lp(process_data)
          lp_wrapper(data)
      
          lp.print_stats()
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 3: memory_profiler - Memory Usage
      
      ```python
      # Install: pip install memory-profiler
      
      from memory_profiler import profile
      
      @profile
      def memory_intensive():
          """Function that uses lots of memory."""
          # Create large list
          big_list = [i for i in range(1000000)]
      
          # Create large dict
          big_dict = {i: i**2 for i in range(100000)}
      
          # Process data
          result = sum(big_list)
      
          return result
      
      if __name__ == "__main__":
          memory_intensive()
      
      # Run with:
      # python -m memory_profiler script.py
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 4: py-spy - Production Profiling
      
      ```bash
      # Install: pip install py-spy
      
      # Profile a running Python process
      py-spy top --pid 12345
      
      # Generate flamegraph
      py-spy record -o profile.svg --pid 12345
      
      # Profile a script
      py-spy record -o profile.svg -- python script.py
      
      # Dump current call stack
      py-spy dump --pid 12345
      ```
      
      ## Optimization Patterns
      
      ### Pattern 5: List Comprehensions vs Loops
      
      ```python
      import timeit
      
      # Slow: Traditional loop
      def slow_squares(n):
          """Create list of squares using loop."""
          result = []
          for i in range(n):
              result.append(i**2)
          return result
      
      # Fast: List comprehension
      def fast_squares(n):
          """Create list of squares using comprehension."""
          return [i**2 for i in range(n)]
      
      # Benchmark
      n = 100000
      
      slow_time = timeit.timeit(lambda: slow_squares(n), number=100)
      fast_time = timeit.timeit(lambda: fast_squares(n), number=100)
      
      print(f"Loop: {slow_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"Comprehension: {fast_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"Speedup: {slow_time/fast_time:.2f}x")
      
      # Even faster for simple operations: map
      def faster_squares(n):
          """Use map for even better performance."""
          return list(map(lambda x: x**2, range(n)))
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 6: Generator Expressions for Memory
      
      ```python
      import sys
      
      def list_approach():
          """Memory-intensive list."""
          data = [i**2 for i in range(1000000)]
          return sum(data)
      
      def generator_approach():
          """Memory-efficient generator."""
          data = (i**2 for i in range(1000000))
          return sum(data)
      
      # Memory comparison
      list_data = [i for i in range(1000000)]
      gen_data = (i for i in range(1000000))
      
      print(f"List size: {sys.getsizeof(list_data)} bytes")
      print(f"Generator size: {sys.getsizeof(gen_data)} bytes")
      
      # Generators use constant memory regardless of size
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 7: String Concatenation
      
      ```python
      import timeit
      
      def slow_concat(items):
          """Slow string concatenation."""
          result = ""
          for item in items:
              result += str(item)
          return result
      
      def fast_concat(items):
          """Fast string concatenation with join."""
          return "".join(str(item) for item in items)
      
      def faster_concat(items):
          """Even faster with list."""
          parts = [str(item) for item in items]
          return "".join(parts)
      
      items = list(range(10000))
      
      # Benchmark
      slow = timeit.timeit(lambda: slow_concat(items), number=100)
      fast = timeit.timeit(lambda: fast_concat(items), number=100)
      faster = timeit.timeit(lambda: faster_concat(items), number=100)
      
      print(f"Concatenation (+): {slow:.4f}s")
      print(f"Join (generator): {fast:.4f}s")
      print(f"Join (list): {faster:.4f}s")
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 8: Dictionary Lookups vs List Searches
      
      ```python
      import timeit
      
      # Create test data
      size = 10000
      items = list(range(size))
      lookup_dict = {i: i for i in range(size)}
      
      def list_search(items, target):
          """O(n) search in list."""
          return target in items
      
      def dict_search(lookup_dict, target):
          """O(1) search in dict."""
          return target in lookup_dict
      
      target = size - 1  # Worst case for list
      
      # Benchmark
      list_time = timeit.timeit(
          lambda: list_search(items, target),
          number=1000
      )
      dict_time = timeit.timeit(
          lambda: dict_search(lookup_dict, target),
          number=1000
      )
      
      print(f"List search: {list_time:.6f}s")
      print(f"Dict search: {dict_time:.6f}s")
      print(f"Speedup: {list_time/dict_time:.0f}x")
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 9: Local Variable Access
      
      ```python
      import timeit
      
      # Global variable (slow)
      GLOBAL_VALUE = 100
      
      def use_global():
          """Access global variable."""
          total = 0
          for i in range(10000):
              total += GLOBAL_VALUE
          return total
      
      def use_local():
          """Use local variable."""
          local_value = 100
          total = 0
          for i in range(10000):
              total += local_value
          return total
      
      # Local is faster
      global_time = timeit.timeit(use_global, number=1000)
      local_time = timeit.timeit(use_local, number=1000)
      
      print(f"Global access: {global_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"Local access: {local_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"Speedup: {global_time/local_time:.2f}x")
      ```
      
      ### Pattern 10: Function Call Overhead
      
      ```python
      import timeit
      
      def calculate_inline():
          """Inline calculation."""
          total = 0
          for i in range(10000):
              total += i * 2 + 1
          return total
      
      def helper_function(x):
          """Helper function."""
          return x * 2 + 1
      
      def calculate_with_function():
          """Calculation with function calls."""
          total = 0
          for i in range(10000):
              total += helper_function(i)
          return total
      
      # Inline is faster due to no call overhead
      inline_time = timeit.timeit(calculate_inline, number=1000)
      function_time = timeit.timeit(calculate_with_function, number=1000)
      
      print(f"Inline: {inline_time:.4f}s")
      print(f"Function calls: {function_time:.4f}s")
      ```
      
      For advanced optimization techniques including NumPy vectorization, caching, memory management, parallelization, async I/O, database optimization, and benchmarking tools, see [references/advanced-patterns.md](references/advanced-patterns.md)
      
  • SKILL.md 3.2 KB
    ---
    name: python-performance-optimization
    description: Profile and optimize Python code using cProfile, memory profilers, and performance best practices. Use when debugging slow Python code, optimizing bottlenecks, or improving application performance.
    ---
    
    # Python Performance Optimization
    
    Comprehensive guide to profiling, analyzing, and optimizing Python code for better performance, including CPU profiling, memory optimization, and implementation best practices.
    
    ## When to Use This Skill
    
    - Identifying performance bottlenecks in Python applications
    - Reducing application latency and response times
    - Optimizing CPU-intensive operations
    - Reducing memory consumption and memory leaks
    - Improving database query performance
    - Optimizing I/O operations
    - Speeding up data processing pipelines
    - Implementing high-performance algorithms
    - Profiling production applications
    
    ## Core Concepts
    
    ### 1. Profiling Types
    
    - **CPU Profiling**: Identify time-consuming functions
    - **Memory Profiling**: Track memory allocation and leaks
    - **Line Profiling**: Profile at line-by-line granularity
    - **Call Graph**: Visualize function call relationships
    
    ### 2. Performance Metrics
    
    - **Execution Time**: How long operations take
    - **Memory Usage**: Peak and average memory consumption
    - **CPU Utilization**: Processor usage patterns
    - **I/O Wait**: Time spent on I/O operations
    
    ### 3. Optimization Strategies
    
    - **Algorithmic**: Better algorithms and data structures
    - **Implementation**: More efficient code patterns
    - **Parallelization**: Multi-threading/processing
    - **Caching**: Avoid redundant computation
    - **Native Extensions**: C/Rust for critical paths
    
    ## Quick Start
    
    ### Basic Timing
    
    ```python
    import time
    
    def measure_time():
        """Simple timing measurement."""
        start = time.time()
    
        # Your code here
        result = sum(range(1000000))
    
        elapsed = time.time() - start
        print(f"Execution time: {elapsed:.4f} seconds")
        return result
    
    # Better: use timeit for accurate measurements
    import timeit
    
    execution_time = timeit.timeit(
        "sum(range(1000000))",
        number=100
    )
    print(f"Average time: {execution_time/100:.6f} seconds")
    ```
    
    ## Detailed patterns and worked examples
    
    Detailed pattern documentation lives in `references/details.md`. Read that file when the navigation tier above is insufficient.
    
    ## Best Practices
    
    1. **Profile before optimizing** - Measure to find real bottlenecks
    2. **Focus on hot paths** - Optimize code that runs most frequently
    3. **Use appropriate data structures** - Dict for lookups, set for membership
    4. **Avoid premature optimization** - Clarity first, then optimize
    5. **Use built-in functions** - They're implemented in C
    6. **Cache expensive computations** - Use lru_cache
    7. **Batch I/O operations** - Reduce system calls
    8. **Use generators** for large datasets
    9. **Consider NumPy** for numerical operations
    10. **Profile production code** - Use py-spy for live systems
    
    ## Common Pitfalls
    
    - Optimizing without profiling
    - Using global variables unnecessarily
    - Not using appropriate data structures
    - Creating unnecessary copies of data
    - Not using connection pooling for databases
    - Ignoring algorithmic complexity
    - Over-optimizing rare code paths
    - Not considering memory usage
    

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