Which are the best ways to optimise Ruby code for performance?

Hello Everyone :hugs:,

I’ve been working with Ruby for a while now, mainly for web applications and automation scripts. I love the language for its simplicity and elegance, but as my applications grow larger, I’ve started to encounter some performance bottlenecks. I’m wondering what are some best practices to improve Ruby code performance, particularly for medium to large-scale applications?

Specifically, I’ve noticed that my application’s memory usage is increasing over time, and some parts of the code are slower than I’d like, particularly when handling large datasets. I’ve been using tools like Benchmark and memory_profiler, which have helped me identify some problem areas, but I’m still curious about ways to optimize more effectively.

Here are a few questions I have:

  1. What are some common Ruby performance pitfalls that developers should avoid, especially when dealing with large datasets?
  2. Are there specific Ruby gems or libraries that you recommend for optimizing performance or reducing memory usage?
  3. How do you approach optimizing ActiveRecord queries in Rails? Any tips for minimizing database load?
  4. Are there any particular patterns or refactorings you’ve found useful to improve Ruby code efficiency without sacrificing readability?
  5. Finally, how do you balance performance optimization with maintaining clean, idiomatic Ruby code?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on these topics, as well as any resources (books, articles, tools) that you’ve found helpful for mastering generative ai performance optimization in Ruby.

Thank you in advance.