the optimization process for the store_slice function in the TON Blockchain's

[zqy-691001]

Overview:

The store_slice function within the stdlib.fc file of the TON Blockchain has been identified as an area for potential optimization. The current implementation leads to unnecessary gas consumption due to the order of operations in the TON Virtual Machine (TVM). This document outlines the proposed changes, the expected benefits, and the steps to contribute this optimization back to the project.

Current Issue:

The existing store_slice function is implemented as follows in C:

builder store_slice(builder b, slice s) "STSLICER";

This results in the following assembly instructions:

execute SWAP
execute STSLICER

The gas consumption for this sequence is 44 units (18 for SWAP + 26 for STSLICER).

Proposed Optimization:

By rewriting the function directly in assembly, we can achieve the desired operation order without the need for an additional SWAP operation:

builder store_slice(builder b, slice s) asm(s b) "STSLICE";

This change results in a more efficient single assembly instruction:

execute STSLICE

With this optimization, the gas consumption is reduced to just 18 units, which is a significant improvement over the original implementation.

Benefits of the Optimization:

1. Reduced Gas Consumption: The most immediate benefit is the reduction in gas consumption from 44 units to 18 units. This can lead to cost savings for users interacting with smart contracts on the TON Blockchain, as they will require less gas to execute the store_slice operation.

2. Improved Efficiency: The optimized function is more efficient in terms of both gas usage and execution speed, as it eliminates the unnecessary SWAP operation.

3. Simplified Assembly: The assembly code is simplified, which can make it easier to understand and maintain.