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Update 02_declare_most_used_variables_first.md

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@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ Where we learn that first come is first served.
## Summary
- [How Applesoft variables work](#-how-applesoft-variables-work)
- [Variables declared later in the code are recovered last](#-variables-declared-later-in-the-code-are-recovered-last)
- [With many variables, it's essential to follow this rule](#-with-many-variables-its-essential-to-follow-this-rule)
- [Recommendations](#-recommendations)
## 🍎 How Applesoft variables work
@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ Let's have another example. Now this time, we will declare 26 different variable
30 END
```
Line 20 took 20241 cycles. Second snippet is identical except we access variable ``Z`` instead of variable ``A``. You'll notice that the values of these two variables are identical to eliminate the possible fact that different values are handled with different speeds.
Line 20 took 20241 cycles. Second snippet is identical except we access variable ``Z`` instead of variable ``A``. You'll notice that the values of these two variables are identical to eliminate the fact that different values are handled with different speeds.
```basic
10 A=0: B=1: C=1: D=1: E=1: F=1: G=1: H=1: I=1: J=1: K=1: L=1: M=1: N=1: O=1: P=1: Q=1: R=1: S=1: T=1: U=1: V=1: W=1: X=1: Y=1: Z=0
@ -65,45 +64,23 @@ Line 20 took 20241 cycles. Second snippet is identical except we access variable
30 END
```
This took 21026 cycles. The difference is **only** 785 cycles. Let's be honest, it's not gigantic.
But ! Wait ! Remember that snippet in the section [Use variables as placeholders for constant values](#use-variables-as-placeholders-for-constant-values) where we handled value ``0`` ?
It had a difference of 390 cycles just by replacing a hardcoded/constant value of ``0`` with a variable name. It would mean that if we're not careful, we might lose the advantage we took for granted.
## 🍎 With many variables, it's essential to follow this rule
Let me rephrase this: imagine if Z was holding a value you need to use **OFTEN** ... myself I like to put **zero** in Z because it's obviously a good variable name for such a value ...
Let's see that with two other snippets. Snippet #1 will declare ``Z`` first, snippet #2 will declare ``Z`` last and snippet #3 will not use ``Z`` but a hardcoded value of ``0``
This took 21026 cycles. The difference is **only** 785 cycles **slower**. Let's be honest, it's not gigantic.
But ! Wait ! Remember that snippet in the section [Use variables as placeholders for constant values](variables-for-constant.md#constant0) where we handled value ``0`` ? Because we stored the constant ``0`` in a variable, we won 390 cycles every time used that variable instead of the hardcoded constant. Is it the case here ? Let's just replace line 20 with
```basic
10 Z=0: A=0: B=1: C=1: D=1: E=1: F=1: G=1: H=1: I=1: J=1: K=1: L=1: M=1: N=1: O=1: P=1: Q=1: R=1: S=1: T=1: U=1: V=1: W=1: X=1: Y=1
20 PRINT Z
30 END
```
Line 20 took 20241 cycles (same cycle count as when ``A`` was declared first and we wanted to print the value of ``A``)
Snippet #2:
```basic
10 A=0: B=1: C=1: D=1: E=1: F=1: G=1: H=1: I=1: J=1: K=1: L=1: M=1: N=1: O=1: P=1: Q=1: R=1: S=1: T=1: U=1: V=1: W=1: X=1: Y=1: Z=0
20 PRINT Z
30 END
```
Line 20 took 21026 cycles, it's **slower**, with a difference of 785 cycles !
Snippet #3
```basic
10 A=0: B=1: C=1: D=1: E=1: F=1: G=1: H=1: I=1: J=1: K=1: L=1: M=1: N=1: O=1: P=1: Q=1: R=1: S=1: T=1: U=1: V=1: W=1: X=1: Y=1: Z=0
20 PRINT 0
30 END
```
It is now actually faster to use the hardcoded constant as this line 20 only takes 20672 cycles, a difference of 354 cycles **faster**.
Line 20 took 20672 cycles, a difference of only 431 cycles with the first snippet where we use ``Z=0`` as the first declared variable, but also it's 354 cycles **faster** than the version where ``Z=0`` is declared last ! Thus, negating any interest in replacing ``0`` with a variable if it's not declared in time !
It means that if we're not careful, we might lose the advantage we took for granted.
Does it mean we should not always use constants/variables substitution ? No.
This is **rule #1**: you must replace hardcoded constants with variables.
But **rule #2** is equally important: imagine Z is holding a value you need to use **OFTEN** ... myself I like to put **zero** in Z because it's obviously a good variable name for such a value ...
What you need to do is declare ``Z`` at the right time, before less used variables. You need to count the occurrences of each variable in your main loop and declare the most used variables first.
## 🍎 Recommendations