StructLinq - Improve C# Efficiency with StructLinq Using Struct-Based LINQ

Introduction to StructLinq

StructLinq is an efficient C# implementation of the Language Integrated Query (LINQ) concept, utilizing structures (structs) to significantly reduce memory allocation and enhance performance. This project introduces the IRefStructEnumerable interface to optimize performance further when dealing with large structs, commonly known as "fat" structs.

Installation

StructLinq is available on NuGet, making it easy to include in your project. To install StructLinq, run the following command in your package manager console:

PM> Install-Package StructLinq

Usage

StructLinq leverages generic concepts and struct specialization extensively. Below is a simple example showcasing the usage of StructLinq to sum all even numbers in an array:

using StructLinq;

int[] array = new[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

int result = array
                .ToStructEnumerable()
                .Where(x => (x & 1) == 0, x => x)
                .Select(x => x * 2, x => x)
                .Sum();

Here, x=>x is a technique used to avoid boxing and improve type inference, thus enhancing performance. It is also possible to gain further performance benefits by using structs for Where predicates and Select functions.

Performances

StructLinq drastically improves execution speed compared to traditional LINQ, especially when aiming for zero memory allocation. Using struct-optimized methods can provide significant performance boosts, with potential efficiency increases highlighted in benchmark results.

For example, typical LINQ might take around 65 microseconds to complete a certain task, while StructLinq can perform the same task in about 7 microseconds, demonstrating the efficiency gains possible.

Features

StructLinq offers numerous features to optimize and extend LINQ functionalities:

LINQ Extensions

StructLinq provides extensions for common LINQ operations like Aggregate, All, Any, Count, Distinct, SelectMany, Where, and many others. Many of these extensions are optimized for zero allocations.

BCL Extensions

StructLinq extends various Base Class Library (BCL) collections like arrays, lists, dictionaries, and hashsets to support StructLinq operations efficiently.

Converters

StructLinq includes converters to transform collections into different formats, such as ToArray and ToList.

IRefStructEnumerable

The IRefStructEnumerable interface helps avoid copying data, which can be particularly beneficial when handling large structures in memory. This interface supports efficient iteration without memory allocations and allows duck typing with foreach.

Conclusion

StructLinq is a powerful tool for developers who seek optimized performance from their LINQ operations. By reducing memory allocations and enhancing the execution speed through the use of structs, StructLinq stands as a robust alternative to traditional LINQ, especially in performance-critical applications.