egui-performance-ceiling

Quantify egui immediate-mode rendering performance ceilings per frame.

1|Updated Mar 15, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/hafley66/claude-research --skill egui-performance-ceiling
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: egui-performance-ceiling
Source: https://github.com/hafley66/claude-research/tree/main/skills/egui-performance-ceiling
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/hafley66/claude-research --skill egui-performance-ceiling

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

egui's immediate-mode architecture hits performance ceilings. This skill explains why it occurs and how it compares to retained-mode alternatives, offering actionable optimization guidance.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Core Cost Function: per-frame work scales with total_widgets; every frame runs a layout pass and a paint pass, with per-widget costs and caching help.
  • Performance Thresholds: presents typical widget-count thresholds and headroom to guide optimizations.
  • Use Case Guidance: practical strategies to reduce nesting, minimize text, and optimize paint commands in egui apps.

Quick Start

Analyze a given egui UI to locate widgets causing layout and paint load that prevent 60fps.

Frequently Asked Questions about egui-performance-ceiling

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
Why does egui immediate-mode rendering drop below 60fps with many widgets?

egui's immediate-mode rendering drops below 60fps because every frame runs a full layout pass and paint pass. Performance degrades as per-widget costs accumulate with high total widget counts, hitting the framework's rendering ceiling.

How do I optimize egui layout and paint times for a dashboard?

Optimize egui layout and paint times by reducing deep widget nesting, minimizing text-heavy elements, and streamlining paint commands. Analyzing per-frame costs helps identify specific widgets causing load to restore frame budgets.

What is the performance threshold for egui with 10000 widgets?

The performance threshold for egui with 10000 widgets is reached when immediate-mode per-frame work exceeds the 60fps budget. Typical thresholds quantify headroom by measuring layout time, paint time, and per-widget costs.

How does egui performance compare to retained-mode frameworks?

egui's immediate-mode performance compares to retained-mode frameworks by running per-frame layout and paint passes on all widgets. Retained-mode alternatives avoid this continuous recalculating, offering better performance for complex UIs.

Can I benchmark per-widget costs in an egui editor UI?

Yes, you can benchmark per-widget costs in an egui editor UI by quantifying layout time and paint time per frame. This identifies the specific widgets causing performance bottlenecks and preventing 60fps.

What are the limitations of immediate-mode GUI rendering for text-heavy layouts?

The limitations of immediate-mode GUI rendering for text-heavy layouts include rapid frame budget exhaustion due to high per-widget costs. Deep nesting and extensive text processing continuously consume layout and paint time per frame.