Lisp node memory utilization and optimization.

[Brian Busse]

I recall a portion of the R13 or R14 customization documentation that discussed AUTOLISP memory utilization in greater detail than is present in the online stuff for 2000 and later, specifically, that string constants and AUTOLISP variable names of 6 or less characters used only one "node" of memory, and that longer strings or variable names used a node plus memory from string space. The result has been contortionist tricks to keep local variables 6 or less chars long. Makes for strange names. Is this still true in 2K and later?

Thanks, Brian.

 

[Tony Tanzillo]

Producing readable code is far more important than
this 6-character-or-less symbol name nonsense. What
good is shaving a few milliseconds off of execution
time, or saving a few nodes, if the price you pay
is hopelessly cryptic code?

That issue is from the dark ages where there were
hard limits on node space/memory (e.g., circa R12
and earlier, where (vmon) was used). Visual LISP
uses virtual memory so this really isn't as much
of an issue any longer.

 

[Rakesh Rao]

Hi Brian,

To my knowledge, these restrictions do not apply any more.

Regards
Rakesh

I recall a portion of the R13 or R14 customization documentation that discussed AUTOLISP memory utilization in greater detail than is present in the online stuff for 2000 and later, specifically, that string constants and AUTOLISP variable names of 6 or less characters used only one "node" of memory, and that longer strings or variable names used a node plus memory from string space. The result has been contortionist tricks to keep local variables 6 or less chars long. Makes for strange names. Is this still true in 2K and later?

Thanks, Brian.

 

[Rick Francken]

Producing readable code is far more important than
this 6-character-or-less symbol name nonsense. What
good is shaving a few milliseconds off of execution
time, or saving a few nodes, if the price you pay
is hopelessly cryptic code?

I'll second that!

"(defun GetPlateThickness... " means a lot more to me than "(defun PP25..." when I am tracing through a file with 100 functions defined.

-Rick

 

[BillZ]

Do you mean you can't remember the names of those hundreds of funtions you defined over the years??? <<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Neither can I!

Bill

 

[Walt Engle]

Do you mean you can't remember the names of those hundreds of funtions you defined over the years???
<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Neither can I!

Bill

Not a function - I made a font shape file 15 years ago and haven't done one since. Not about to try again.
WE

 

[Rick Francken]

If it had been code I developed, I probably still wouldn't remember the names of those functions....All the more reason to use function names that document themselves.

"BillZ" &lt;&gt; wrote:

Do you mean you can't remember the names of those hundreds of funtions you defined over the years??? &lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;

Neither can I!

Bill