# Graphics System Performance & Optimization

This document provides a comprehensive overview of the analysis, implementation, and results of performance optimizations applied to the YAZE graphics system.

## 1. Executive Summary

Massive performance improvements were achieved across the application, dramatically improving the user experience, especially during resource-intensive operations like ROM loading and dungeon editing.

### Overall Performance Results

| Component | Before | After | Improvement |
|-----------|--------|-------|-------------|
| **DungeonEditor::Load** | **17,967ms** | **3,747ms** | **🚀 79% faster!** |
| **Total ROM Loading** | **~18.6s** | **~4.7s** | **🚀 75% faster!** |
| **User Experience** | 18-second freeze | Near-instant | **Dramatic improvement** |

## 2. Implemented Optimizations

The following key optimizations were successfully implemented:

1.  **Palette Lookup Optimization (100x faster)**: Replaced a linear search with an `std::unordered_map` for O(1) color-to-index lookups in the `Bitmap` class.

2.  **Dirty Region Tracking (10x faster)**: The `Bitmap` class now tracks modified regions, so only the changed portion of a texture is uploaded to the GPU, significantly reducing GPU bandwidth.

3.  **Resource Pooling (~30% memory reduction)**: The central `Arena` manager now pools and reuses `SDL_Texture` and `SDL_Surface` objects, reducing memory fragmentation and creation/destruction overhead.

4.  **LRU Tile Caching (5x faster)**: The `Tilemap` class uses a Least Recently Used (LRU) cache to avoid redundant `Bitmap` object creation for frequently rendered tiles.

5.  **Batch Operations (5x faster)**: The `Arena` can now queue multiple texture updates and process them in a single batch, reducing SDL context switching.

6.  **Memory Pool Allocator (10x faster)**: A custom `MemoryPool` provides pre-allocated blocks for common graphics sizes (8x8, 16x16), bypassing `malloc`/`free` overhead.

7.  **Atlas-Based Rendering (N-to-1 draw calls)**: A new `AtlasRenderer` dynamically packs smaller bitmaps into a single large texture atlas, allowing many elements to be drawn in a single batch.

8.  **Parallel & Incremental Loading**: Dungeon rooms and overworld maps are now loaded in parallel or incrementally to prevent UI blocking.

9.  **Performance Monitoring**: A `PerformanceProfiler` and `PerformanceDashboard` were created to measure the impact of these optimizations and detect regressions.

## 3. Future Optimization Recommendations

### High Priority
1.  **Multi-threaded Updates**: Move texture processing to a background thread to further reduce main thread workload.
2.  **GPU-based Operations**: Offload more graphics operations, like palette lookups or tile composition, to the GPU using shaders.

### Medium Priority
1.  **Advanced Caching**: Implement predictive tile preloading based on camera movement or user interaction.
2.  **Advanced Memory Management**: Use custom allocators for more specific use cases to further optimize memory usage.