JavaScript setTimeout performance measurement

Intro

In HTML browser applications timer events are used all over. And it could impact usability of HTML application in various ways. From slowness of UI interaction to memory leaks and eventually death of application.

The application profiling methods are used for code efficiency measurement. Profilers are available in most popular browsers to some extent, but the  high level analysis stays in developer's hands and quite subjective. Especially when it comes to comparison of alternative code implementations.

Scope

Measurements

The timer-related activities in HTML application mostly exposed as timer event handling. Most popular low-level API is setTimer, setInterval, postMessage and special use of XHR. Platform also could provide own specific methods.

Difficult part is how to count application performance impact on those timer event handlers changes in attempt to tune them up.

I see the few criterias could be measured:

  1. Event handler timing. It will be most efficient and adequate method if not facing few crucial "buts"
  2. System CPU load. Obviously it is indirect and not precise. Will work only in conditions where CPU utilization is high enough and impact of say removal of timer event handler will be noticeable. The artificial bursting of timer event handler calls to the level of good detection is needed. Also there is no CPU utilization JS API exist. It could be simulated by count per second of dummy events. postMessage or setTimeout w/ zero interval. Just need to be sure that platform does that asynchronously.
    Another option is to have constant timeout but incrementally increase the load. Say just loop on heavy math computations. Operations counter per second until the timer interval is reached will give the CPU availability.

    CPU load timing is not intrusive and do not chance characteristics of recearched event handler. Also it allows check system load overall. I.e. no special treatment for specific timer event handler. Also could be used for system performance tracking on other recurrent event handlers like drag, mouse movement, progress animations, etc.

Tips

My todo list during timer handlers optimization.

 

Links

©2010 Sasha Firsov