High Memory Usage

[celloopa]

High Memory Usage in Asteroids Game

Issue Description

The Asteroids game is currently consuming between 180-200 MB of memory during gameplay. This high memory usage may lead to performance issues, especially on lower-end devices or when running alongside other applications.

Current Behavior

• The game uses 180-200 MB of memory during normal gameplay.
• Monitoring through CleanMyMac, windows version still not tested.
• Memory usage appears to be consistent and does not increase over time, suggesting it's not a memory leak.
• The high memory usage is likely due to inefficient rendering of images and lack of general optimizations.

Expected Behavior

• The game should use significantly less memory, ideally under 100 MB.
• Performance should be smooth and consistent across different devices.

Potential Causes

1. Inefficient image loading and rendering
2. Excessive creation of pygame.Surface objects
3. Lack of object pooling for frequently created/destroyed objects (e.g., asteroids, shots)
4. Unnecessary copying of large data structures
5. Unoptimized background rendering

Proposed Solutions

1. Implement texture atlases for more efficient image rendering
2. Optimize background rendering by using a single, persistent surface
3. Implement object pooling for asteroids and shots
4. Profile the code to identify specific areas of high memory usage
5. Optimize data structures and algorithms where possible
6. Consider using pygame.sprite.Group.draw() for more efficient rendering

Steps to Reproduce

1. Launch the game
2. Play for approximately 2-3 minutes
3. Monitor memory usage using a system monitor or profiling tool

Additional Information

• Python version: 3.12.6
• Pygame version: pygame==2.6.0
• Operating System: MacOs Sonoma 15.1 Beta

Priority

High - This issue significantly impacts the game's performance and should be addressed before adding new features.

Acceptance Criteria

• Memory usage is reduced to under 100 MB during normal gameplay
• No noticeable decrease in frame rate or responsiveness
• Game runs smoothly on a variety of devices, including lower-end systems
• Code changes are well-documented and follow best practices for optimization