Why I use if MyString <> '' and not if Length(MyString) > 0 ?

1) if MyString <> '' then
2) if Length(MyString) > 0 then

Both forms are used to test whether a string is empty. Let's see what the Delphi compiler has to say:

Create a new project and add this code to it:

procedure Proc1;
var
   MyString: string;
begin
  if MyString <> '' then begin

  end;
end;

procedure Proc2;
var
  MyString: string;
begin
  if Length(MyString) > 0 then begin

  end;
end;

Put a breakpoint in front of both lines containing a if statement and run the program. When the program hits the breakpoint open the window: View -> Debug Windows - CPU Windows -> Disassembly. (I'm using Delphi XE3 here, but recent versions has the same functionality). Then we see this:

The code for the first if statement is this:

Unit1.pas.35: if MyString <> '' then begin

005ACE55 837DFC00 cmp dword ptr [ebp-$04],$00

The code for the second if statement is this:

Unit1.pas.49: if Length(MyString) > 0 then begin

005ACEF5 8B45FC mov eax,[ebp-$04]
005ACEF8 8945F4 mov [ebp-$0c],eax
005ACEFB 837DF400 cmp dword ptr [ebp-$0c],$00
005ACEFF 740B jz $005acf0c
005ACF01 8B45F4 mov eax,[ebp-$0c]
005ACF04 83E804 sub eax,$04
005ACF07 8B00 mov eax,[eax]
005ACF09 8945F4 mov [ebp-$0c],eax
005ACF0C 837DF400 cmp dword ptr [ebp-$0c],$00

One assembly instruction for the first, and five (or nine) for the second. If MyString is empty, the jump instruction (jz) will skip part of the code.

Time measures prove that the first form is faster than the second. Using Delphi XE3 (x86), if MyString is empty, the first form is slightly faster. If MyString is not empty (even 1 char in size), the first form is much faster (100% or more).

Why Mr. Delphi Hater should be called Mr. Dumbass Hater

Mr. Hater is a well known Delphi-related FUD spreader. From times to times some colleague or friend send me a link pointing to one of his infamous posts.
Mr. "dumbass" Hater pretends to be some kind of Delphi user defender, some kind of Batman of the Delphi community, but he turned out to be more like the Jokerman. His correspondents from the north pole, Atlantis and Bermuda triangle always send him "hot" information that he "generously" shares with us poor mortals. Unfortunately, he don't have a clue about most of the things that he intends to review or analyze. I think that positive criticisms are necessary, but what he does has nothing to do with it.

The last post that I read was this: http://delphihaters.blogspot.de/2013/01/delphi-hidden-settings.html

Some options are really funny, I must admit. The funnier part though is that Mr. Dumbass didn't publish my genuine question/comment about IntraWeb. All that I asked him was:

1) Provide me a test case where an IntraWeb application uses 2 Gb of memory without any explanation and without memory leaks caused by user code.

2) Provide me a test case where an IntraWeb application can't handle Unicode by default (HTML rendering/uploaded and downloaded file names/whatever)

3) Provide me a test case where an IntraWeb application takes forever to render a page (no need to take forever though. Just more than expected and I would be satisfied)

I'm not asking much from such a programming guru, right? But the comment wasn't approved by Mr. D. Can't you find/create such examples, Mr. D?

Another genuine question, Mr. D:
Why someone that keeps spreading FUD in the dark has a MODERATED blog??? You are blogging anonymously, so why do you want me to identify myself when adding comments to your blog?

My psychologist would say that Mr. Dumbass has some kind of complex with strange name. His crusade against IntraWeb, for instance, is more than a personal point of view. Not satisfied spreading FUD about Delphi and related products he also attacks the companies and the people behind it, what I find to be unacceptable. Probably someone really hurt Mr. Dumbass and he just can't live with that... Why don't you accept Delphi podcast invitation and tell us who did it to you, Mr. D?

PS: This is my personal point of view about the subject and is not endorsed or has nothing to do with Embarcadero, Atozed or whatever.