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TruffleRuby uses an optimisation called object shapes to optimise Ruby. It automatically learns and understands the layout and types, or the shape, of your objects as your code is running and optimises code to work better with those shapes. As the community tries to make MRI faster, it could be time to adopt object shapes there as well. We’ll talk about what TruffleRuby does, how it does it, and the benefits it achieves in practice. RubyKaigi Takeout 2021: https://rubykaigi.org/2021-takeout/presentations/chrisgseaton.html
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In the keynote presentation titled "The Future Shape of Ruby Objects," Chris Seaton, a Senior Staff Engineer at Shopify and founder of TruffleRuby, discusses the optimization of Ruby objects through a technique known as object shapes. This method is currently employed by TruffleRuby to improve performance by reducing overhead associated with evaluating the various 'what-ifs' that Ruby implementations encounter while running code. ### Key Points: - **Object Shapes Explained**: Object shapes are structures designed to optimize how instance variables are managed in Ruby, potentially enhancing performance for MRI (Matz's Ruby Interpreter) as well. - **Performance Challenges**: Ruby often struggles with speed due to the need to frequently consider different scenarios during execution, such as method monkey-patching or thread sharing. - **Existing Implementations**: While JRuby and TruffleRuby have efficient methods for managing instance variables, other implementations handle Ruby objects similarly without effectively addressing these overheads. - **Historical Context**: The concept of object shapes has its roots in the Smalltalk and Self programming languages, which sought to blend developer happiness with performance efficiency. - **Memory Management**: The use of object shapes can improve not only time performance but also memory optimization in Ruby applications by allowing instances with similar shapes to share metadata. - **Dynamic Adaptability**: Ruby objects transition dynamically between different shapes, remaining efficient by using hardcoded assumptions and reducing class checks, which MRI traditionally has to verify every time. - **Comparison of Ruby Implementations**: Seaton discusses how TruffleRuby achieves a high performance level in accessing instance variables compared to MRI and JRuby by maintaining immutability of shapes and leveraging the same reading and writing patterns for instance variables. - **Future Potential**: TruffleRuby's continued development and efficient object shape management may offer promising pathways for ongoing Ruby performance improvements, particularly when combined with just-in-time compilation techniques. This presentation pushes for the adoption of object shapes within MRI, viewing it as a low-complexity change that can yield immediate performance benefits and supports other performance enhancement efforts like MJIT, YJIT, and Sorbet—stressing the importance of balancing efficiency with programmer satisfaction, which is core to Ruby's philosophy. In conclusion, the exploration of object shapes marks a significant advancement in Ruby optimization approaches, ensuring that performance and developer experience evolve together, reinforcing Ruby's future viability and effectiveness.
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