From 46888b67164f94bb3cc62a92e6dabc642e887b31 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Orkuncakilkaya <orkuncakilkaya@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:43:25 +0300
Subject: [PATCH] runtime, ludic.ui: a scalar Value is one allocation, not
 three (lists only for a list or an object); layout and cascade lists kept a
 depth; small numbers' text made once - benchmark 63 -> 36 KB a frame

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 packages/ludic.ui/attr.ludic          |  6 ++--
 packages/ludic.ui/attr_box.ludic      |  4 +--
 packages/ludic.ui/attr_edge.ludic     |  2 +-
 packages/ludic.ui/attr_inset.ludic    |  2 +-
 packages/ludic.ui/attr_more.ludic     |  4 +--
 packages/ludic.ui/attr_place.ludic    |  2 +-
 packages/ludic.ui/backend.ludic       |  6 ++++
 packages/ludic.ui/cascade_merge.ludic |  9 ++++--
 packages/ludic.ui/elem.ludic          |  6 ++--
 packages/ludic.ui/frame.ludic         |  2 +-
 packages/ludic.ui/layout_run.ludic    | 17 +++++++++--
 packages/ludic.ui/layout_shrink.ludic |  5 ++--
 packages/ludic.ui/values.ludic        | 11 +++++++
 runtime/native/value.ludic            | 41 +++++++++++++++++++--------
 14 files changed, 84 insertions(+), 33 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/attr.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/attr.ludic
index a5e13b1d..7abacd78 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/attr.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/attr.ludic
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ function el_apply(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, key: string, v0: Val) -> bool {
   ui_st.el_cur = n
   ui_st.el_key = k
   if len(k) > 2 and sat(k, 0, "--") {
-    cs_var_set(n, k, vl_text(v0))
+    cs_var_set(n, k, vl_text_u(ui_st, v0))
     return true
   }
   let v = cs_vars_in(ui_st, n, v0)
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ function el_size(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, key: string, v: Val) -> bool {
   return true
 }
 function el_flex(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, key: string, v: Val) -> bool {
-  let s = vl_text(v)
+  let s = vl_text_u(ui_st, v)
   if key == "dir" {
     n.dir = UI_COL
     if s == "row" { n.dir = UI_ROW }
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ function el_flex(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, key: string, v: Val) -> bool {
   return true
 }
 function el_look(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, key: string, v: Val) -> bool {
-  let s = vl_text(v)
+  let s = vl_text_u(ui_st, v)
   if key == "size" { n.size = el_len(ui_st, v) } else if key == "color" {
     n.fg = ui_color(ui_st, s)
     n.fg_a = ui_st.cl_alpha
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_box.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_box.ludic
index edc37eb1..16f22735 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_box.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_box.ludic
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ function el_sides(ui_st: mut UiState, v: Val) -> void {
     ui_st.el_s0 = el_px(ui_st, Value.as_float(v))
     n = 1
   } else {
-    let words = mm_words(ui_st, vl_text(v))
+    let words = mm_words(ui_st, vl_text_u(ui_st, v))
     for i in 0 .. len(words) {
       if len(words[i]) > 0 and n < 4 {
         el_side_set(ui_st, n, el_word_len(ui_st, words[i]))
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ function el_side_set(ui_st: mut UiState, i: int, v: float) -> void {
 # a length: a number, 10px, 1.5em, 2rem, 50vw, calc(...), fill, fit or auto (a percentage is el_pct's)
 function el_len(ui_st: mut UiState, v: Val) -> float {
   if vl_num(v) { return el_px(ui_st, Value.as_float(v)) }
-  let s = vl_text(v)
+  let s = vl_text_u(ui_st, v)
   if s == "fill" { return UI_FILL }
   if ca_is(s) { return el_calc_len(ui_st, s) }
   if s == "fit" or s == "auto" or (len(s) > 0 and s[len(s) - 1] == 37) { return 0.0 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_edge.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_edge.ludic
index 51e4e09b..62df9758 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_edge.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_edge.ludic
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # attr_edge.ludic - border-radius, outline (and its width, colour and offset), scrollbar-color
 function el_edge(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, key: string, v: Val) -> bool {
-  let s = vl_text(v)
+  let s = vl_text_u(ui_st, v)
   if key == "border-radius" { n.radius = el_len(ui_st, v) } else if key == "outline" { el_outline(ui_st, n, s) } else if key == "outline-width" { n.outline_w = el_len(ui_st, v) } else if key == "outline-offset" { n.outline_off = el_len(ui_st, v) } else if key == "outline-color" {
     n.outline_c = ui_color(ui_st, s)
     n.outline_a = ui_st.cl_alpha
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_inset.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_inset.ludic
index b33af5a1..bb6eb47f 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_inset.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_inset.ludic
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # percentage is kept apart and taken of the containing block's width (left, right) or height (top,
 # bottom) when the element is placed
 function el_inset(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, side: int, v: Val) -> float {
-  let s = vl_text(v)
+  let s = vl_text_u(ui_st, v)
   var pct = 0.0
   var px = UI_AUTO
   if s != "auto" {
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_more.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_more.ludic
index df55e8bb..bf00a328 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_more.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_more.ludic
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 # attr_more.ludic - width and height (where 0 is 0 and calc() may hold a percentage), the flex
 # shorthand, flex-shrink, order, text-shadow, pointer-events, text-fit and line-height (text_fit.ludic)
 function el_more(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, key: string, v: Val) -> bool {
-  let s = vl_text(v)
+  let s = vl_text_u(ui_st, v)
   if key == "shrink" { nx(n).shrink = Math.max(el_num(s), 0.0) } else if key == "order" { nx(n).order = int(el_num(s)) } else if key == "text-shadow" { el_text_shadow(ui_st, n, s) } else if key == "pointer-events" { nx(n).no_pointer = tpl_words(s) == "none" } else if key == "text-fit" { el_text_fit(ui_st, n, s) } else if key == "line-height" { el_line_h(ui_st, n, s) } else { return el_fit_props(ui_st, n, key, s) }
   return true
 }
 # width or height: a length (0 included), fill, a percentage, calc(), or auto/fit (none)
 function el_dim(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, wide: bool, v: Val) -> void {
-  let s = vl_text(v)
+  let s = vl_text_u(ui_st, v)
   var fixed = UI_AUTO
   var pct = 0.0
   var off = 0.0
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_place.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_place.ludic
index 31263c8e..8abefc97 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/attr_place.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/attr_place.ludic
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # attr_place.ludic - position and its insets, z-index, overflow, white-space and text-overflow
 function el_place_prop(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, key: string, v: Val) -> bool {
-  let s = vl_text(v)
+  let s = vl_text_u(ui_st, v)
   if key == "position" {
     n.pos = 0
     if s == "relative" { n.pos = 1 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/backend.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/backend.ludic
index 74fe587d..1fc7bc7f 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/backend.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/backend.ludic
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ export state UiState {
   pl_cur: UiPool = null
   mm: UiMemo = null                      # memo.ludic: splits, gradients and keys by their text
   mm_ints: []string = null
+  ly_depth: int = 0                      # layout_run.ludic: the lists a line lays out with, one a depth
+  ly_sizes: [][]float = new [][]float
+  ly_frozen: [][]bool = new [][]bool
+  cs_rules: []UiRule = new []UiRule      # cascade_merge.ludic: a component root's rules, gathered
+  cs_envs: []UiEnv = new []UiEnv
+  cs_seen: []UiSheet = new []UiSheet
   an_frames: []UiKeyframes = new []UiKeyframes
   an_keys: []string = new []string
   an_start: []float = new []float
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/cascade_merge.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/cascade_merge.ludic
index 1210b945..0054543f 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/cascade_merge.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/cascade_merge.ludic
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
 # specificity as one sheet's are. On a tie the user's rule wins (the outermost user's last), as a
 # later rule does. Then `order`, which rearranges a flex box's children without touching the tree.
 function cs_merged(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode) -> void {
-  let rules = new []UiRule
-  let envs = new []UiEnv
-  let seen = new []UiSheet
+  let rules = ui_st.cs_rules          # kept and emptied: a merge runs once an element, never inside another
+  let envs = ui_st.cs_envs
+  let seen = ui_st.cs_seen
+  List.clear(rules)
+  List.clear(envs)
+  List.clear(seen)
   if n.sheet != null { cs_gather(ui_st, n, n.sheet, n.env, rules, envs, seen) }
   for i in 0 .. len(n.ups) {
     if n.ups[i].sheet != null { cs_gather(ui_st, n, n.ups[i].sheet, n.ups[i].env, rules, envs, seen) }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/elem.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/elem.ludic
index e8bb9d3c..fb1b32c0 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/elem.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/elem.ludic
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ function bd_elem(ui_st: mut UiState, k: UiTpl, e: UiEnv, key: string) -> UiNode
   n.sheet = k.sheet
   n.style = k.style
   el_kind(ui_st, n, k.tag)
-  for i in 0 .. len(k.keys) { el_keep(n, k.keys[i], ui_eval(ui_st, k.vals[i], e)) }
+  for i in 0 .. len(k.keys) { el_keep(ui_st, n, k.keys[i], ui_eval(ui_st, k.vals[i], e)) }
   n.hovered = fr_was_hovered(ui_st, key)
   n.on_names = k.on_keys
   n.on_acts = k.on_acts
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ function el_text(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, s: string) -> void {
   push(n.children, t)
 }
 # id, class, hidden, disabled and src say what the element is; the rest are applied after the rules
-function el_keep(n: UiNode, key: string, v: Val) -> void {
-  let s = vl_text(v)
+function el_keep(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, key: string, v: Val) -> void {
+  let s = vl_text_u(ui_st, v)
   if key == "id" { n.id = s } else if key == "class" {
     let parts = lss_split(s, 32)
     for i in 0 .. len(parts) {
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/frame.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/frame.ludic
index 4ff3e98b..152e8bad 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/frame.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/frame.ludic
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export function ui_nodes(ui_st: mut UiState, screen: string, view: UiView) -> Ui
   root.sheet = t.sheet
   root.tag = "screen"
   for i in 0 .. len(t.keys) {
-    if t.keys[i] != "name" { el_keep(root, t.keys[i], ui_eval(ui_st, t.vals[i], e)) }
+    if t.keys[i] != "name" { el_keep(ui_st, root, t.keys[i], ui_eval(ui_st, t.vals[i], e)) }
   }
   bd_kids(ui_st, t.kids, e, screen, root.children)
   cs_tree(ui_st, root)
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/layout_run.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/layout_run.ludic
index 7bcc2b51..5bc9fb62 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/layout_run.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/layout_run.ludic
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ function ly_place_line(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, from: int, to: int, top: f
   var used = 0.0
   var grows = 0.0
   var count = 0
-  let sizes = new []float
+  let depth = ui_st.ly_depth
+  ui_st.ly_depth += 1
+  let sizes = ly_scratch(ui_st, depth)
   for i in from .. to {
     push(sizes, ly_basis(n.children[i], n.dir, main_room))
     if n.children[i].pos < 2 {
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ function ly_place_line(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, from: int, to: int, top: f
   }
   used = used + n.gap * float(Math.max(count - 1, 0))
   let free = main_room - used
-  if free < 0.0 { ly_shrink_line(n, from, sizes, 0.0 - free) }
+  if free < 0.0 { ly_shrink_line(ui_st, depth, n, from, sizes, 0.0 - free) }
   ly_justify(ui_st, n, free, count, grows)
   let extra = ui_st.ly_extra
   var at = ui_st.ly_lead
@@ -65,6 +67,17 @@ function ly_place_line(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, from: int, to: int, top: f
     if c.pos == 1 { ly_nudge(n, c) }
     at = at + m + n.gap + extra
   }
+  ui_st.ly_depth = depth
+}
+# a line's sizes, and its shrink's frozen flags, in lists kept one a depth (a line's children lay out
+# their own lines while it is still placing them), emptied rather than made anew
+function ly_scratch(ui_st: mut UiState, depth: int) -> []float {
+  while len(ui_st.ly_sizes) <= depth {
+    push(ui_st.ly_sizes, new []float)
+    push(ui_st.ly_frozen, new []bool)
+  }
+  List.clear(ui_st.ly_sizes[depth])
+  return ui_st.ly_sizes[depth]
 }
 # one child: `m` along the run and its own size (or the whole room, stretched) across, less margins
 function ly_place_child(ui_st: mut UiState, n: UiNode, c: UiNode, at: float, top: float, m: float, cross_room: float) -> void {
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/layout_shrink.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/layout_shrink.ludic
index 884ea78b..b006cd36 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/layout_shrink.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/layout_shrink.ludic
@@ -23,9 +23,10 @@ function ly_min_h(c: UiNode) -> float {
   return c.mh
 }
 # `sizes` (the children from..to) shrunk by `over` in all
-function ly_shrink_line(n: UiNode, from: int, sizes: []float, over0: float) -> void {
+function ly_shrink_line(ui_st: mut UiState, depth: int, n: UiNode, from: int, sizes: []float, over0: float) -> void {
   var over = over0
-  let frozen = new []bool
+  let frozen = ui_st.ly_frozen[depth]
+  List.clear(frozen)
   for k in 0 .. len(sizes) { push(frozen, n.children[from + k].pos >= 2) }
   for pass in 0 .. 8 {
     var wsum = 0.0
diff --git a/packages/ludic.ui/values.ludic b/packages/ludic.ui/values.ludic
index 67e4ffd9..32127bbb 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.ui/values.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.ui/values.ludic
@@ -71,3 +71,14 @@ function vl_binary(op: string, a: Val, b: Val) -> Val {
 # a value as text, whatever kind it is: a component's string prop given a number (label="{3}") reads
 # "3", not nothing
 export function ui_val_text(v: Val) -> string { return vl_text(v) }
+# vl_text for what is asked per element per frame: a small whole number's text comes from the table
+# made once (mm_int) rather than being written out again
+function vl_text_u(ui_st: mut UiState, v: Val) -> string {
+  let k = Value.kind(v)
+  if k == 1 { return mm_int(ui_st, Value.as_int(v)) }
+  if k == 2 or k == 7 {
+    let f = Value.as_float(v)
+    if f == float(int(f)) { return mm_int(ui_st, int(f)) }
+  }
+  return vl_text(v)
+}
diff --git a/runtime/native/value.ludic b/runtime/native/value.ludic
index cc3e4c0b..db160c12 100644
--- a/runtime/native/value.ludic
+++ b/runtime/native/value.ludic
@@ -24,12 +24,22 @@ property Val {
   kids: []Val
 }
 
+# a number, a string or a null is one record; only a list or an object carries lists (made when first
+# filled) - three allocations for every scalar was most of what a UI frame made and never gave back
 function value_new(tag: int) -> Val {
   let v = new Val
   v.tag = tag
+  if tag == 5 or tag == 6 { value_lists(v) }
+  return v
+}
+function value_lists(v: Val) -> void {
+  if v.kids != null { return }
   v.keys = new []pointer
   v.kids = new []Val
-  return v
+}
+function value_n(v: Val) -> int {
+  if v.kids == null { return 0 }
+  return len(v.kids)
 }
 
 # --- constructors -----------------------------------------------------------
@@ -43,8 +53,13 @@ function value_float(x: float) -> Val { let v = value_new(7); v.num = float_bits
 function value_object() -> Val { return value_new(6) }
 
 # --- builders (return the container, so calls chain) ------------------------
-function value_add(list: Val, item: Val) -> Val { push(list.kids, item); return list }
+function value_add(list: Val, item: Val) -> Val {
+  value_lists(list)
+  push(list.kids, item)
+  return list
+}
 function value_put(obj: Val, key: pointer, item: Val) -> Val {
+  value_lists(obj)
   var i = 0
   while i < len(obj.keys) { if obj.keys[i] == key { obj.kids[i] = item; return obj };  i += 1 }
   push(obj.keys, key);  push(obj.kids, item)
@@ -53,7 +68,7 @@ function value_put(obj: Val, key: pointer, item: Val) -> Val {
 
 # --- accessors --------------------------------------------------------------
 function value_kind(v: Val) -> int { return v.tag }
-function value_count(v: Val) -> int { return len(v.kids) }
+function value_count(v: Val) -> int { return value_n(v) }
 function value_as_int(v: Val) -> int {
   if v.tag == 7 { return int(float_from_bits(v.num)) }
   return v.num
@@ -66,21 +81,21 @@ function value_as_float(v: Val) -> float {
 }
 function value_as_str(v: Val) -> string { if v.txt == null { return "" };  return v.txt }
 function value_at(list: Val, i: int) -> Val {
-  if i < 0 or i >= len(list.kids) { return value_null() }
+  if i < 0 or i >= value_n(list) { return value_null() }
   return list.kids[i]
 }
 function value_key_at(obj: Val, i: int) -> string {
-  if i < 0 or i >= len(obj.keys) { return "" }
+  if i < 0 or i >= value_n(obj) { return "" }
   return obj.keys[i]
 }
 function value_get(obj: Val, key: pointer) -> Val {
   var i = 0
-  while i < len(obj.keys) { if obj.keys[i] == key { return obj.kids[i] };  i += 1 }
+  while i < value_n(obj) { if obj.keys[i] == key { return obj.kids[i] };  i += 1 }
   return value_null()
 }
 function value_has(obj: Val, key: pointer) -> int {
   var i = 0
-  while i < len(obj.keys) { if obj.keys[i] == key { return 1 };  i += 1 }
+  while i < value_n(obj) { if obj.keys[i] == key { return 1 };  i += 1 }
   return 0
 }
 
@@ -132,7 +147,7 @@ function json_encode(v: Val) -> string {
   if v.tag == 5 {
     var out = "["
     var i = 0
-    while i < len(v.kids) {
+    while i < value_n(v) {
       if i > 0 { out += "," }
       out += json_encode(v.kids[i])
       i += 1
@@ -141,7 +156,7 @@ function json_encode(v: Val) -> string {
   }
   var out = "{"
   var i = 0
-  while i < len(v.keys) {
+  while i < value_n(v) {
     if i > 0 { out += "," }
     out = out + json_quote(v.keys[i]) + ":" + json_encode(v.kids[i])
     i += 1
@@ -176,9 +191,11 @@ function json_parse(s: pointer) -> Val {
 # a node or hold a literal, is not for this (Ludic has no collector; plan 23 of maroon-lake).
 function value_free(v: Val) -> void {
   if v == null { return }
-  for i in 0 .. len(v.kids) { value_free(v.kids[i]) }
-  free(v.kids)
-  free(v.keys)
+  if v.kids != null {
+    for i in 0 .. len(v.kids) { value_free(v.kids[i]) }
+    free(v.kids)
+    free(v.keys)
+  }
   free(v)
 }
 function json_free(v: Val) -> void { value_free(v) }