From d2f9ed51172dbe042e868584809605e74597d9bb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "google-labs-jules[bot]"
 <161369871+google-labs-jules[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 03:38:03 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] perf(orbital): defer dict allocation and string formatting in
 prediction loop

Moved the point dictionary construction and `strftime` call inside the
`el >= min_elevation` check to prevent expensive and unnecessary
operations when the satellite is below the horizon.

Co-authored-by: d3mocide <136547209+d3mocide@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 .jules/bolt.md                 |  4 ++++
 backend/api/routers/orbital.py | 16 +++++++++-------
 2 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 .jules/bolt.md

diff --git a/.jules/bolt.md b/.jules/bolt.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7d874c31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.jules/bolt.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+
+## 2024-05-15 - Defer Expensive Operations in High-Frequency Loops
+**Learning:** In high-frequency orbital prediction loops (like `backend/api/routers/orbital.py`), calling `strftime` and allocating dictionaries for every sampled orbital point—even when the satellite is not visible—creates a massive performance bottleneck due to unnecessary string formatting and memory allocation overhead.
+**Action:** Always defer expensive operations like `strftime` and object allocation until *after* filtering conditions (e.g., `el >= min_elevation`) have been met.
diff --git a/backend/api/routers/orbital.py b/backend/api/routers/orbital.py
index 73b34753..73a37686 100644
--- a/backend/api/routers/orbital.py
+++ b/backend/api/routers/orbital.py
@@ -187,14 +187,16 @@ async def get_passes(
             r_ecef = teme_to_ecef(r, jd, fr)
             az, el, rng = ecef_to_topocentric(obs_ecef, r_ecef, lat, lon)
 
-            point = {
-                "t": t.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ"),
-                "az": round(az, 2),
-                "el": round(el, 2),
-                "slant_range_km": round(rng, 3),
-            }
-
             if el >= min_elevation:
+                # OPTIMIZATION: Defer expensive strftime and dict allocation
+                # until after visibility check passes
+                point = {
+                    "t": t.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ"),
+                    "az": round(az, 2),
+                    "el": round(el, 2),
+                    "slant_range_km": round(rng, 3),
+                }
+
                 if not in_pass:
                     in_pass = True
                     current_pass_points = []