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name: rust-library-performance-features description: Optimize Rust libraries with criterion benchmarks, feature-flag matrices, cargo bench workflows, dependency gating, regression baselines, and evidence-driven API performance tradeoffs. Use when adding or reviewing Rust library benchmarks, cargo features, optional dependencies, or performance claims before publishing. license: MIT compatibility: Codex, Claude Code, and other Agent Skills-compatible clients. metadata: version: "0.1.0" displayName: Rust Library Performance Features category: Rust tags: rust,performance,benchmarking,cargo-features,library

Rust Library Performance Features

Use this skill when a Rust library needs performance work that can be measured and shipped behind clear Cargo feature boundaries.

Core Workflow

1. Define the library operation and input sizes that matter to downstream users.
2. Add or repair benchmarks before optimizing.
3. Compare baseline and candidate implementations with the same harness.
4. Use Cargo features for optional capabilities and dependencies.
5. Test the feature matrix, including default features disabled.
6. Document performance claims with scope and measurement commands.

Read Next

Task	Load
Add benchmarks or optimize a hot path	guidelines.md, workflows/benchmark-feature-matrix.md
Review Cargo features and optional dependencies	references/performance-feature-patterns.md
Validate performance claims before release	references/performance-feature-patterns.md

Source Notes

Guidance is transformed and paraphrased from Herbert Wolverson, Advanced Hands-On Rust, especially Chapters 2 and 3 on creating, testing, optimizing, benchmarking, and feature-gating a library. Examples are original skeletons.