Tier 3 Series 202

202E: The Profiler Check

Pilot Record
Student Profile
"A pilot doesn't guess which engine is overheating; they look at the telemetry gauges. If you are optimizing code based on "feelings" rather than data, you are wasting time. A skilled Pilot uses the Profiler to mark and measure bottlenecks."

The Concept: Profiler.BeginSample

Unity's Profiler shows you exactly how much time each function takes. To make your custom code show up clearly, you can wrap it in "Samples."

* **BeginSample("Name"):** Starts the stopwatch.
* **EndSample:** Stops the stopwatch.
* **Deep Profiling:** An option in the Profiler to see every single C# function call (use with caution, it's slow).
Red Flag Detected

The AI Trap: "The Blind Optimization"

You ask the AI: "This script feels slow. Rewrite the math."

// AI-Generated Code: Refactoring blindly
void Update() {
    // Audit Fail: We don't know if "CalculatePath" is the slow part.
    // Maybe "UpdateUI" is the actual problem?
    CalculatePath();
    UpdateUI();
}

This is "Shotgun Optimization." You might spend 3 days rewriting the pathfinding, only to discover the lag was actually caused by the UI text update.

Elite Telemetry

Research shows "Elite" teams achieve 15% faster lead times by keeping AI on a "very tight leash."

  • Small Batches Solving one problem at a time prevents logic drift.
  • Modular Design Localizing the "blast radius" of AI changes.
  • Tight Loops Rapid iteration with constant code review.

The Pilot's Correction

Corrective Protocol
// Corrected: Measurable Logic
using UnityEngine.Profiling;

void Update() {
    Profiler.BeginSample("AI_Pathing");
    CalculatePath();
    Profiler.EndSample();

    Profiler.BeginSample("UI_Update");
    UpdateUI();
    Profiler.EndSample();
}
Your Pilot Command
> A skilled Pilot directs the AI to Add Telemetry. You command: "Wrap the major logic blocks in Profiler.BeginSample so we can see the cost in the Profiler."
Next Mission
The Material Batch