What is benchmarking in C++ and how can I implement it?

What is benchmarking in C++ and how can I implement it?

Benchmarking in C++ is the process of measuring the performance of your code, typically to identify bottlenecks. You can implement it using libraries like Google Benchmark or by manually timing your code using the <chrono> library.

Can you show me a simple example using Google Benchmark?

Sure! First, install Google Benchmark. Then, you can create a simple benchmark like this:

#include <benchmark/benchmark.h>

static void BM_SomeFunction(benchmark::State& state) {
    for (auto _ : state) {
        // Code to benchmark
    }
}

BENCHMARK(BM_SomeFunction);

BENCHMARK_MAIN();

How do I interpret the results from Google Benchmark?

The results will show you the time taken for each iteration of your benchmarked function. Look for metrics like the average time per operation, which helps you understand the performance impact of your code.

Are there any common pitfalls to avoid when benchmarking?

Yes, common pitfalls include not running benchmarks in a release build, not accounting for warm-up iterations, and measuring too small code snippets that may not reflect real-world performance.