This chapter presents ideas to consider when trying to create the most efficient programs possible, and discusses how to analyze the performance of your applications.
Knowledge of IDL's implementation and the pitfalls of virtual memory can be used to greatly improve the efficiency of IDL programs. In IDL, complicated computations can be specified at a high level. Therefore, inefficient IDL programs can suffer severe speed penalties - perhaps much more so than with most other languages.
Techniques for writing efficient programs in IDL are identical to those in other computer languages with the addition of the following simple guidelines:
Attention also must be given to algorithm complexity and efficiency, as this is usually the greatest determinant of resources used.