perf(findr): removed allocations for output dirs.

PERFORMANCE_IDEAS.md

@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
 # Performance Ideas
 
-Current state after regex→glob migration + inline entry processing + skip gitignore in .All mode + channel-based streaming output. findr beats fd in 3/4 cases.
+Current state after regex→glob migration + inline entry processing + skip gitignore in .All mode + channel-based streaming output + byte-buffer output. findr beats fd in 4/4 cases.
 
-## Benchmark results (2026-06-17, post-channels)
+## Benchmark results (2026-06-17, post-byte-buffer)
 
 | Case | fd | findr | Ratio |
 |------|------|-------|-------|
-| 1 `-E .jj` | 159ms | 112ms | **1.42x faster** |
-| 2 `-H` | 1.202s | 710ms | **1.69x faster** |
-| 3 `-HI` | 1.080s | 1.212s | **1.12x slower** |
-| 4 `-E .git` | 298ms | 222ms | **1.34x faster** |
+| 1 `-E .jj` | 148ms | 99ms | **1.50x faster** |
+| 2 `-H` | 1.142s | 609ms | **1.88x faster** |
+| 3 `-HI` | 1.009s | 966ms | **1.04x faster** |
+| 4 `-E .git` | 268ms | 197ms | **1.36x faster** |
 
-Channels gave the biggest single improvement since the project started. Cases 1, 2, and 4 got dramatically faster because output I/O now overlaps with directory walking. Case 3 improved from 1.18x slower to 1.12x slower.
+Byte-buffer output eliminated per-result string allocations. Workers now write `path\n` directly into `[]u8` buffers sent through the channel; the output writer does a single bulk write per batch. Case 3 (`-HI`, 5.6M entries) flipped from 1.12x slower to 1.04x faster — the biggest win since it has the most output.
 
 ## Completed
 
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ Channels gave the biggest single improvement since the project started. Cases 1,
 7. **Inline entry processing** — merged `read_dir_entries` into `process_dir`. Entry names consumed directly from getdents buffer via `dirent_name(d)` views. Eliminated millions of `strings.clone`/`delete` pairs. User time dropped 38% in `-HI` case.
 8. **Skip `has_git_dir` probe in `.All` mode** — guarded `has_git_dir(fd)` with `ignore_mode != .All`. Eliminated ~280K wasted `openat` ENOENT probes in `-HI` case. System time dropped 33% (11.3s → 7.6s).
 9. **Channel-based streaming output** — replaced global results array + mutex with `chan.Chan([]string)`, cap `2 * thread_count`. Workers flush 256-result batches through the channel; a consumer thread drains to stdout. Matches fd's architecture (`crossbeam_channel::bounded(2*threads)`, batch size `0x100`). Eliminates the collect-then-write barrier. Cases 1/2/4 went from 1.1-1.3x faster to 1.3-1.7x faster.
+10. **Byte-buffer output** — replaced `chan.Chan([]string)` with `chan.Chan([]u8)`. Workers write `path\n` directly into 64KB byte buffers via `append_path`; output writer does a single bulk `writer_write` per batch. Eliminates ~5M `join_path` allocs, ~5M `delete(s)` frees, ~20K batch array allocs. Case 3 (`-HI`) flipped from 1.12x slower to 1.04x faster. All 4 cases now beat fd.
 
 ## fd vs findr architecture comparison
 
@@ -36,8 +37,8 @@ Channels gave the biggest single improvement since the project started. Cases 1,
 | Path traversal | Full paths | Full paths |
 | Glob matching | globset stratification (literals→hash, complex→regex) | Backtracking token matcher |
 | Result transport | `crossbeam_channel::bounded(2*threads)` (lock-free MPMC) | `core:sync/chan` (single-mutex ring buffer) |
-| Batching | `Arc<Mutex<Option<Vec>>>` shared buffer, flush on first item | Detach backing array as `[]string`, flush when full (256) |
-| Output mode | Hybrid: buffer 1000 items / 100ms → sort → stream | Direct streaming (no buffer/sort mode yet) |
+| Batching | `Arc<Mutex<Option<Vec>>>` shared buffer, flush on first item | 64KB `[]u8` byte buffers, flush when full |
+| Output mode | Hybrid: buffer 1000 items / 100ms → sort → stream | Bulk byte writes, direct streaming (no buffer/sort mode yet) |
 
 ## Known problems
 
@@ -47,11 +48,51 @@ Channels gave the biggest single improvement since the project started. Cases 1,
 
 ## Remaining ideas
 
-1. **Lock-free MPMC queue**
+### Allocation strategies
+
+Allocation audit (per-entry hot path in `process_dir`):
+
+| Site | What | Est. count (-HI) |
+|------|------|-------------------|
+| `join_path`/`join_path_dir` for results | `make([]u8, total)` for result paths | ~5M |
+| `join_path` for WorkItem paths | same, for recursed dirs | ~500K |
+| `strings.clone(entry_rel)` | clone for WorkItem.rel | ~500K |
+| `clone_to_c_string(dir_path)` | cstring for `open()` | ~500K |
+| `flush_batch` → `make([dynamic]string)` | new batch array | ~20K |
+| `delete(s)` per result | free in output writer | ~5M |
+
+Available Odin allocators: `core:mem` (Arena, Dynamic_Arena, Stack, etc.), `core:mem/tlsf` (TLSF — O(1) alloc/free, supports individual frees, grows via backing allocator).
+
+1. **Byte-buffer output — eliminate result path allocations entirely** *(COMPLETED — see #10 in Completed)*
+
+2. **Stack-buffer cstring for `open()`**
+   Replace `strings.clone_to_c_string(dir_path)` + `delete(cpath)` with a stack buffer copy:
+   ```odin
+   cbuf: [4096]u8
+   copy(cbuf[:], dir_path)
+   cbuf[len(dir_path)] = 0
+   fd, err := linux.open(cstring(raw_data(&cbuf[0])), ...)
+   ```
+
+   **Eliminates**: ~500K heap allocs for cstrings. Trivial change.
+
+3. **Arena for WorkItem paths**
+   Use a `Dynamic_Arena` or virtual-memory bump allocator for `join_path` results and `clone(entry_rel)` in WorkItems. Remove individual `delete(item.path)` / `delete(item.rel)` calls. Free arena once at end of `walk_stream`.
+
+   **Eliminates**: ~1M individual alloc/free pairs for WorkItem paths/rels.
+
+   **Challenge**: WorkItems cross thread boundaries via the queue, so the arena must be shared. A shared `Dynamic_Arena` needs synchronization on the bump pointer. Cleanest approach: `core:mem/virtual` to reserve a large address space (e.g. 256MB) and do `atomic_add_explicit(&offset, size, .Acquire)` for lock-free bump allocation.
+
+4. **TLSF as global allocator**
+   Swap `context.allocator` to TLSF at program start. O(1) alloc/free with good cache locality. ~5 lines of code. Best as a fallback if strategies 1-3 don't fully close the gap.
+
+### Other ideas
+
+5. **Lock-free MPMC queue**
    Replace Odin's mutex-based channel with a custom multi-producer-single-consumer ring buffer using atomics. Eliminates all futex syscalls on the result-transport hot path.
 
    **Design**:
-   - Fixed-capacity ring buffer of `[]string` slots (cap = `2 * thread_count`, same as now)
+   - Fixed-capacity ring buffer of `[]u8` slots (cap = `2 * thread_count`, same as now)
    - Producer side: each worker atomic-CASes a `head` counter forward to claim a slot index, writes its batch, then sets a `ready` flag on the slot
    - Consumer side: atomic-load `head`, drains all ready slots up to `head`, writes to stdout, frees batches
    - Backpressure: if `head - tail >= cap`, producer spins/waits (yields via `sched_yield` or `futex` with private flag)
@@ -63,11 +104,8 @@ Channels gave the biggest single improvement since the project started. Cases 1,
 
    **Effort**: Medium. ~100-150 lines for the queue + a few tests. No changes to walker or main.
 
-2. **Arena allocator per thread**
-   Bump allocator for all transient strings (result paths, work item paths), free once at exit. Would address the allocator efficiency gap. Bigger change, helps everywhere.
-
-3. **Buffer/sort output mode** (fd's approach)
+6. **Buffer/sort output mode** (fd's approach)
    Buffer up to 1000 results (or 100ms deadline), sort them, then switch to streaming. Gives sorted output for small searches without sacrificing throughput on large ones. fd's `ReceiverMode::Buffering → Streaming` pattern.
 
-4. **Git index parsing**
+7. **Git index parsing**
    Parse `.git/index` binary format to show tracked dotfiles. Closes the 84-file correctness delta in cases 1/4. Last correctness gap.

findr.odin

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import "core:sync/chan"
 import "core:thread"
 
 Writer_Data :: struct {
-	ch: chan.Chan([]string),
+	ch: chan.Chan([]u8),
 }
 
 output_writer :: proc(t: ^thread.Thread) {
@@ -18,13 +18,8 @@ output_writer :: proc(t: ^thread.Thread) {
 	defer bufio.writer_destroy(&w)
 
 	for {
-		batch, ok := chan.recv(data.ch)
-		if !ok do break
-		for s in batch {
-			bufio.writer_write_string(&w, s)
-			bufio.writer_write_byte(&w, '\n')
-			delete(s)
-		}
+		batch := chan.recv(data.ch) or_break
+		bufio.writer_write(&w, batch)
 		delete(batch)
 	}
 	bufio.writer_flush(&w)
@@ -97,7 +92,7 @@ main :: proc() {
 
 	thread_count := os.get_processor_core_count()
 
-	ch, _ := chan.create(chan.Chan([]string), max(2 * thread_count, 2), context.allocator)
+	ch, _ := chan.create(chan.Chan([]u8), max(2 * thread_count, 2), context.allocator)
 	defer chan.destroy(ch)
 
 	wdata := new(Writer_Data)

walker.odin

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import "core:sys/linux"
 import "core:text/regex"
 import "core:thread"
 
-BATCH_SIZE :: 256
+OUTPUT_BUF_SIZE :: 64 * 1024
 
 IgnoreMode :: enum {
 	Respected, // skip gitignored, prune ignored dirs (fd -H default)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ WalkerPool :: struct {
 	queue:         [dynamic]WorkItem,
 	queue_mutex:   sync.Mutex,
 	queue_sema:    sync.Atomic_Sema,
-	result_chan:  chan.Chan([]string),
+	result_chan:   chan.Chan([]u8),
 	active:        i64,
 	done:          sync.One_Shot_Event,
 	threads:       []^thread.Thread,
@@ -53,16 +53,34 @@ WalkerPool :: struct {
 	contexts_lock: sync.Mutex,
 }
 
-flush_batch :: proc(ch: chan.Chan([]string), local: ^[dynamic]string) {
+flush_buf :: proc(ch: chan.Chan([]u8), local: ^[dynamic]u8) {
 	if len(local) == 0 do return
 	batch := local[:]
-	local^ = make([dynamic]string, 0, BATCH_SIZE)
+	local^ = make([dynamic]u8, 0, OUTPUT_BUF_SIZE)
 	chan.send(ch, batch)
 }
 
+append_path :: proc(buf: ^[dynamic]u8, parent, name: string, trailing_slash: bool) {
+	need_sep := len(parent) > 0 && parent[len(parent) - 1] != '/'
+	size := len(parent) + len(name) + 1
+	if need_sep do size += 1
+	if trailing_slash do size += 1
+
+	old_len := len(buf)
+	reserve(buf, old_len + size)
+	resize(buf, old_len + size)
+
+	pos := old_len
+	pos += copy(buf[pos:], parent)
+	if need_sep {buf[pos] = '/'; pos += 1}
+	pos += copy(buf[pos:], name)
+	if trailing_slash {buf[pos] = '/'; pos += 1}
+	buf[pos] = '\n'
+}
+
 walk_stream :: proc(
 	roots: []string,
-	result_chan: chan.Chan([]string),
+	result_chan: chan.Chan([]u8),
 	opts: WalkOptions,
 	thread_count: int,
 ) {
@@ -152,7 +170,7 @@ walk_stream :: proc(
 }
 
 Collector_Data :: struct {
-	ch:      chan.Chan([]string),
+	ch:      chan.Chan([]u8),
 	results: ^[dynamic]string,
 }
 
@@ -161,9 +179,16 @@ collect_worker :: proc(t: ^thread.Thread) {
 	for {
 		batch, ok := chan.recv(data.ch)
 		if !ok do break
-		for s in batch {
+		start := 0
+		for i in 0 ..< len(batch) {
+			if batch[i] == '\n' {
+				if i > start {
+					s, _ := strings.clone(string(batch[start:i]))
 					append(data.results, s)
 				}
+				start = i + 1
+			}
+		}
 		delete(batch)
 	}
 }
@@ -171,7 +196,7 @@ collect_worker :: proc(t: ^thread.Thread) {
 walk :: proc(roots: []string, results: ^[dynamic]string, opts: WalkOptions, thread_count: int) {
 	if len(roots) == 0 do return
 
-	ch, _ := chan.create(chan.Chan([]string), max(2 * thread_count, 2), context.allocator)
+	ch, _ := chan.create(chan.Chan([]u8), max(2 * thread_count, 2), context.allocator)
 	defer chan.destroy(ch)
 
 	data := new(Collector_Data)
@@ -197,12 +222,12 @@ walk_worker :: proc(t: ^thread.Thread) {
 	prof_thread_init("walker")
 	defer prof_thread_destroy()
 
-	local_results := make([dynamic]string, 0, BATCH_SIZE)
+	local_buf := make([dynamic]u8, 0, OUTPUT_BUF_SIZE)
 	defer {
-		if len(local_results) > 0 {
-			flush_batch(pool.result_chan, &local_results)
+		if len(local_buf) > 0 {
+			flush_buf(pool.result_chan, &local_buf)
 		}
-		delete(local_results)
+		delete(local_buf)
 	}
 
 	for {
@@ -221,12 +246,12 @@ walk_worker :: proc(t: ^thread.Thread) {
 		ordered_remove(&pool.queue, last)
 		sync.mutex_unlock(&pool.queue_mutex)
 
-		process_dir(pool, item, &local_results)
+		process_dir(pool, item, &local_buf)
 		delete(item.path)
 		if len(item.rel) > 0 {delete(item.rel)}
 
-		if len(local_results) >= BATCH_SIZE {
-			flush_batch(pool.result_chan, &local_results)
+		if len(local_buf) >= OUTPUT_BUF_SIZE {
+			flush_buf(pool.result_chan, &local_buf)
 		}
 
 		old := sync.atomic_sub_explicit(&pool.active, 1, .Release)
@@ -236,7 +261,7 @@ walk_worker :: proc(t: ^thread.Thread) {
 	}
 }
 
-process_dir :: proc(pool: ^WalkerPool, item: WorkItem, local_results: ^[dynamic]string) {
+process_dir :: proc(pool: ^WalkerPool, item: WorkItem, local_buf: ^[dynamic]u8) {
 	dir_path := item.path
 
 	cpath := strings.clone_to_cstring(dir_path)
@@ -281,7 +306,7 @@ process_dir :: proc(pool: ^WalkerPool, item: WorkItem, local_results: ^[dynamic]
 		gi_ctx = new_ctx
 	}
 
-	buf: [32768]u8
+	buf: [32 * 1024]u8
 	rel_buf: [4096]u8
 
 	for {
@@ -321,8 +346,7 @@ process_dir :: proc(pool: ^WalkerPool, item: WorkItem, local_results: ^[dynamic]
 
 			if is_dir {
 				if should_emit && matches_pattern(pool, name) {
-					dir_path_out := join_path_dir(dir_path, name)
-					append(local_results, dir_path_out)
+					append_path(local_buf, dir_path, name, true)
 				}
 				if !ignored {
 					child_rel, _ := strings.clone(entry_rel)
@@ -339,8 +363,7 @@ process_dir :: proc(pool: ^WalkerPool, item: WorkItem, local_results: ^[dynamic]
 				}
 			} else if is_nondir {
 				if should_emit && matches_pattern(pool, name) {
-					full_path := join_path(dir_path, name)
-					append(local_results, full_path)
+					append_path(local_buf, dir_path, name, false)
 				}
 			}
 		}