With ARC, what's better: alloc or autorelease initializers?

Question

Is it better (faster & more efficient) to use alloc or autorelease initializers. E.g.:

- (NSString *)hello:(NSString *)name {
    return [[NSString alloc] initWithFormat:@"Hello, %@", name];
}

OR

- (NSString *)hello:(NSString *)name {
    return [NSString stringWithFormat:@"Hello, %@", name];
//    return [@"Hello, " stringByAppendingString:name]; // even simpler
}

I know that in most cases, performance here shouldn't matter. But, I'd still like to get in the habit of doing it the better way.

If they do exactly the same thing, then I prefer the latter option because it's shorter to type and more readable.

In Xcode 4.2, is there a way to see what ARC compiles to, i.e., where it puts retain, release, autorelease, etc? This feature would be very useful while switching over to ARC. I know you shouldn't have to think about this stuff, but it'd help me figure out the answer to questions like these.

Answer 1

The difference is subtle, but you should opt for the autorelease versions. Firstly, your code is much more readable. Secondly, on inspection of the optimized assembly output, the autorelease version is slightly more optimal.

The autorelease version,

- (NSString *)hello:(NSString *)name {
    return [NSString stringWithFormat:@"Hello, %@", name];
}

translates to

"-[SGCAppDelegate hello:]":
    push    {r7, lr}
    movw    r1, :lower16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_-(LPC0_0+4))
    mov r3, r2
    movt    r1, :upper16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_-(LPC0_0+4))
    movw    r0, :lower16:(L_OBJC_CLASSLIST_REFERENCES_$_-(LPC0_1+4))
    movt    r0, :upper16:(L_OBJC_CLASSLIST_REFERENCES_$_-(LPC0_1+4))
    add r1, pc
    add r0, pc
    mov r7, sp
    ldr r1, [r1]
    ldr r0, [r0]
    movw    r2, :lower16:(L__unnamed_cfstring_-(LPC0_2+4))
    movt    r2, :upper16:(L__unnamed_cfstring_-(LPC0_2+4))
    add r2, pc
    blx _objc_msgSend    ; stringWithFormat:
    pop {r7, pc}

Whereas the [[alloc] init] version looks like the following:

"-[SGCAppDelegate hello:]":
    push    {r4, r5, r6, r7, lr}
    movw    r1, :lower16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_2-(LPC1_0+4))
    add r7, sp, #12
    movt    r1, :upper16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_2-(LPC1_0+4))
    movw    r0, :lower16:(L_OBJC_CLASSLIST_REFERENCES_$_-(LPC1_1+4))
    movt    r0, :upper16:(L_OBJC_CLASSLIST_REFERENCES_$_-(LPC1_1+4))
    add r1, pc
    add r0, pc
    ldr r5, [r1]
    ldr r6, [r0]
    mov r0, r2
    blx _objc_retain    ; ARC retains the name string temporarily
    mov r1, r5
    mov r4, r0
    mov r0, r6
    blx _objc_msgSend   ; call to alloc
    movw    r1, :lower16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_4-(LPC1_2+4))
    mov r3, r4
    movt    r1, :upper16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_4-(LPC1_2+4))
    add r1, pc
    ldr r1, [r1]
    movw    r2, :lower16:(L__unnamed_cfstring_-(LPC1_3+4))
    movt    r2, :upper16:(L__unnamed_cfstring_-(LPC1_3+4))
    add r2, pc
    blx _objc_msgSend   ; call to initWithFormat:
    mov r5, r0
    mov r0, r4
    blx _objc_release   ; ARC releases the name string
    mov r0, r5
    pop.w   {r4, r5, r6, r7, lr}
    b.w _objc_autorelease

As expected, it is a little longer, because it is calling the alloc and initWithFormat: methods. What is particularly interesting is ARC is generating sub-optimal code here, as it retains the name string (noted by call to _objc_retain) and later released after the call to initWithFormat:.

If we add the __unsafe_unretained ownership qualifier, as in the following example, the code is rendered optimally. __unsafe_unretained indicates to the compiler to use primitive (copy pointer) assignment semantics.

- (NSString *)hello:(__unsafe_unretained NSString *)name {
    return [[NSString alloc] initWithFormat:@"Hello, %@", name];
}

as follows:

"-[SGCAppDelegate hello:]":
    push    {r4, r7, lr}
    movw    r1, :lower16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_2-(LPC1_0+4))
    add r7, sp, #4
    movt    r1, :upper16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_2-(LPC1_0+4))
    movw    r0, :lower16:(L_OBJC_CLASSLIST_REFERENCES_$_-(LPC1_1+4))
    movt    r0, :upper16:(L_OBJC_CLASSLIST_REFERENCES_$_-(LPC1_1+4))
    add r1, pc
    add r0, pc
    mov r4, r2
    ldr r1, [r1]
    ldr r0, [r0]
    blx _objc_msgSend
    movw    r1, :lower16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_4-(LPC1_2+4))
    mov r3, r4
    movt    r1, :upper16:(L_OBJC_SELECTOR_REFERENCES_4-(LPC1_2+4))
    add r1, pc
    ldr r1, [r1]
    movw    r2, :lower16:(L__unnamed_cfstring_-(LPC1_3+4))
    movt    r2, :upper16:(L__unnamed_cfstring_-(LPC1_3+4))
    add r2, pc
    blx _objc_msgSend
    .loc    1 31 1
    pop.w   {r4, r7, lr}
    b.w _objc_autorelease