Should I use "if" or "try" (as a matter of speed)?

[Ron Adam]

Roy Smith wrote:

> Thomas Lotze <thomas at thomas-lotze.de> wrote:
> 
>>Basically, I agree with the "make it run, make it right, make it fast"
>>attitude. However, FWIW, I sometimes can't resist optimizing routines that
>>probably don't strictly need it. Not only does the resulting code run
>>faster, but it is usually also shorter and more readable and expressive.
> 
> 
> Optimize for readability and maintainability first.  Worry about speed 
> later.

Yes, and then...

If it's an application that is to be used on a lot of computers, some of 
them may be fairly old.  It might be worth slowing your computer down 
and then optimizing the parts that need it.

When it's run on faster computers, those optimizations would be a bonus.

Cheers,
Ron