Extend static B_int allocation to -128

[mzagozen]

Extended the B_int_strs cache to include pre-allocated B_int instances for negative integers from -1 to -128 (8-bit signed). This avoids dynamic allocation, and by extension the GC, with the aim of improving performance.

[mzagozen]

Perhaps the range -1 .. -128 is too broad as the most common negative number returned from C is -1 (like from str.c, net.c). @sydow what do you think?

[plajjan]

Python does down to -5 and up to 256

>>> a = -6
>>> b = -6
>>> a is b
False
>>> a = -5
>>> b = -5
>>> a is b
True
>>> a = 256
>>> b = 256
>>> a is b
True
>>> a = 257
>>> b = 257
>>> a is b
False
>>>

[plajjan]

From what I remember, there was a reason why we didn't do any negative numbers at all and started from 0 instead, but I can't remember why... @sydow @nordlander whyyyy??? :)

[nordlander]

Sorry, no recollection…

[mzagozen]

Compared to the static B_bool change, this is statistically insignificant. Marking as draft, should reduce the range to -5.

[sydow]

I see no problems and Marko's PR looks perfect. I would recommend merging it as it is.

[plajjan]

Compared to the static B_bool change, this is statistically insignificant. Marking as draft, should reduce the range to -5.

but is this insignificant when you do .contains() or with .index()??