perf(runner): reduce subprocess forks in test runner hot path#608
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Chemaclass merged 6 commits intomainfrom Mar 14, 2026
Merged
perf(runner): reduce subprocess forks in test runner hot path#608Chemaclass merged 6 commits intomainfrom
Chemaclass merged 6 commits intomainfrom
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Eliminate 5 subshell forks per test by accessing global state variables directly instead of calling getter functions via $() command substitution.
…orks Call uname once at source time and reuse the cached value in all OS detection functions. This eliminates up to 3 subprocess forks per bashunit::parallel::is_enabled call across the runner hot path.
Replace bashunit::math::calculate (which pipes to bc) with native bash $(()) arithmetic in the shell and date-seconds clock paths. Eliminates 1-2 subprocess forks per clock::now call.
Detect base64 -w flag support once at load time instead of running base64 --help | grep on every test subshell exit. Also use the cached flag in encode_base64 to avoid redundant command -v and error fallback.
Use bash integer arithmetic and printf builtin instead of spawning awk subprocesses for formatting test durations in seconds.
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✅ Contributor ReportUser: @Chemaclass This user is on the trusted contributors list and was automatically approved. |
JesusValeraDev
approved these changes
Mar 14, 2026
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🤔 Background
Related #467
The test runner spawns many unnecessary subprocesses per test (state getter subshells, repeated
unamecalls,bc/awkfor arithmetic,base64 --helpdetection). These forks dominate wall clock time on large test suites.💡 Changes
$()subshells with direct$_BASHUNIT_*variable access in the runner hot path (~5 forks/test saved)unameresult at source time so OS detection functions use a variable instead of forking (~3 forks peris_enabledcall saved)$(())arithmetic instead of piping tobcinclock::nowshell and date-seconds pathsbase64 -wflag support once at load time instead of runningbase64 --help | grepinside every test subshellawksubprocess with bash integer math +printfbuiltin for duration formattingBenchmarked at ~16-31% wall clock improvement (4m25s → 3m05s on 847 tests).