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Feature #15765

Updated by alanwu (Alan Wu) over 5 years ago

Hello! 

 The current implementation of `Module#name` is known for having sub-optimal performance when it comes to anonymous modules. (see #11119 and #15625) 
 I have put together a reimplementation of `Module#name`, which works by eagerly naming 
 modules and classes when they are assigned to constants. Besides solving the performance 
 issues for `Module#name` on anonymous modules, there are some other benefits. 

 This patch: 
  - removes more code than it adds 
  - makes normal class and module definition slightly faster (definitions like `class Foo; end`) 
  - slightly reduces memory usage for classes and modules due to the removal of a hidden ivar 
  - improves the performance of defining modules and classes under an anonymous module. This used to execute a global search each time. search. 

 ### Behavior changes and caveats: 

 Since we already name module and classes declared with the `class` and `module` keyword on trunk, this patch mostly targets anonymous 
 modules. I tried my best keeping the behaviors consistent with the current implementation, but there are some small behavioral changes. 

 ```ruby 
 mod = Module.new 
 mod::BeforeToS = Module.new 
 mod.const_set(:BeforeToS2, Module.new) 

 mod.to_s # on trunk, the VM starts naming modules assigned under mod after calling to_s 

 mod::AfterToS = Module.new 
 mod.const_set(:AfterToS2, Module.new) 

 p mod::BeforeToS.name    # nil on both 
 p mod::BeforeToS2.name # nil on both  
 
 p mod::AfterToS.name     # "#<Module:0x0000563494b1cca8>::AfterToS" on trunk, nil after patch 
 p mod::AfterToS2.name    # "#<Module:0x0000563494b1cca8>::AfterToS2" on trunk, nil after patch 
 ``` 
 This prints 4 nils after my patch, as I think the behavior on trunk is unintentional. A few C APIs also have the same effect as calling to_s. They are all changed to be side-effect free. 

 ```ruby 
 m = Module.new 
 m::Child = Module.new 
 Mod = m 
 p Object.send(:remove_const, :Mod)::Child.name 
 ``` 
 This prints nil on trunk and `Mod::Child` under this patch. 

 `rb_name_class` is removed, as it does nothing in this new implementation. Not sure if this is public API. 

 Since the recursive naming is done with a recursive function, when function. When a deeply nested anonymous module is assigned 
 to a constant, it is technically possible for this implementation to throw a `StackError`. I had a version 
 which does heap allocation to deal with this, but I picked this version for performance in the common cases. 
 Anonymous modules are rare as is, and one would have to build a structure nested thousands level deep for this to happen. 
 On my system it can name a module fifty thousand levels deep without problem. 

 I think these changes are fairly minimal and acceptable.

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