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Speeding up the Unreal editor by… not using unnecessarily secure hash methods
TL;DR
Optimizing the Unreal editor revealed that using SHA1, a slow cryptographic hash algorithm, for shader hashing significantly impacts performance. Switching to faster alternatives can enhance editor launch times.
✦ Why It Matters
Evaluate your use of SHA1 in your projects and consider faster hashing alternatives.
Key Takeaways
- Profile your software to identify slow functions.
- Avoid using cryptographic hash algorithms for non-sensitive data.
- Consider faster hashing alternatives for better performance.
- Regularly revisit optimization opportunities in overlooked areas.
Full Summary
In the quest to optimize the Unreal editor, the author focused on overlooked areas rather than well-optimized functions like shader compilation. During profiling, they discovered that the SHA1 hash algorithm was being used for hashing shaders, which is inefficient due to its cryptographic nature and historical performance issues.
A comparison of hash algorithms indicated that SHA1 is notably slower than alternatives, which were not even included in the performance tests. This finding suggests that replacing SHA1 with a faster hashing method could lead to substantial improvements in editor launch times.
The implications of this optimization could enhance the overall user experience for developers working with Unreal Engine.