Improving JavaScript runtimes with C++20
The integration of C++20's new ranges library into JavaScript runtimes presents a promising avenue for enhancing performance and code clarity. We delves into how ranges can simplify the handling of collections and sequences in JavaScript engines such as Node.js and Cloudflare workerd. By leveraging lazy evaluation offered by C++20 ranges, JavaScript runtimes can achieve more efficient data processing, reducing both memory footprint and execution time. We explore the application of ranges in optimizing Node.js, showing how they can be used for tasks such as data transformation, filtering, and iteration with less boilerplate code. We examine the benefits of ranges in terms of code readability and maintainability, which are critical for the large teams working on these engines. We provide practical guidance on how developers can begin to incorporate ranges into their projects, considering both the technical and educational aspects of this transition. Our analysis concludes that while there's an adjustment period for developers, the long-term advantages in performance and ease of development make C++20 ranges an invaluable tool for modernizing JavaScript runtimes.
Daniel Lemire
Daniel Lemire is a computer science professor at the Université du Québec (TÉLUQ) in Canada, known for his research in software performance. Daniel Lemire ranks in the top 2% of scientists worldwide according to Stanford University/Elsevier's 2024 ranking. He is part of the 1000 most followed programmers on GitHub. He is also editor of the journal Software: Practice and Experience a long-established (1971) journal where many crucial results were published (e.g., articles by Knuth and Bentley). Lemire is also known for his blog, where he shares insights on programming, software development, and academic research, often attracting a wide audience from both academia and industry. He has authored several influential papers and maintains popular open-source project. Additionally, Daniel engages with the programming community through his extensive writing on performance optimizations and practical software engineering tips.