StreamLens/UPDATE_RATE_SUMMARY.md

# StreamLens Update Rate Optimization Summary

## Problem
The TUI was updating too frequently during PCAP parsing, causing:
- High CPU usage during parsing
- Choppy/stuttering interface
- Poor responsiveness due to excessive updates

## Solution
Slowed down all update rates across the parsing pipeline and TUI layers.

## Changes Made

### 1. Background Analyzer Updates (`background_analyzer.py`)

**Flow Update Batch Size:**
- **Before:** Every 10 packets (very frequent)
- **After:** Every 100 packets (10x slower)
- **Impact:** Reduces flow update callbacks from UI threads

**Progress Monitor Updates:**
- **Before:** Every 0.5 seconds
- **After:** Every 2.0 seconds (4x slower)
- **Impact:** Progress bar and parsing stats update less frequently

**Monitor Thread Sleep:**
- **Before:** 0.1 second sleep between checks
- **After:** 0.5 second sleep between checks (5x slower)
- **Impact:** Reduces background thread CPU usage

### 2. TUI Update Timers (`app_v2.py`)

**Metrics Timer:**
- **Before:** Every 2.0 seconds (0.5 Hz)
- **After:** Every 5.0 seconds (0.2 Hz)
- **Impact:** Flow counts, packet rates, outlier counts update less frequently

**Flow Timer:**
- **Before:** Every 5.0 seconds (0.2 Hz)
- **After:** Every 10.0 seconds (0.1 Hz)
- **Impact:** Flow table data refreshes less frequently

## Performance Benefits

### CPU Usage Reduction
- **Flow callbacks:** 10x reduction (100 packets vs 10 packets)
- **Progress updates:** 4x reduction (2.0s vs 0.5s intervals)
- **Monitor overhead:** 5x reduction (0.5s vs 0.1s sleep)
- **TUI metrics:** 2.5x reduction (5.0s vs 2.0s intervals)
- **TUI flows:** 2x reduction (10.0s vs 5.0s intervals)

### User Experience Improvements
- ✅ **Smoother parsing** - Less frequent UI interruptions
- ✅ **Lower CPU usage** - More resources for actual packet processing
- ✅ **Stable interface** - Buttons and data don't flicker/jump
- ✅ **Better responsiveness** - UI isn't blocked by constant updates
- ✅ **Maintained functionality** - All features still work, just update slower

## Update Timeline During Parsing

### Fast File (< 1000 packets)
- Progress updates every 2 seconds
- Flow updates every 100 packets (could be ~1-5 times total)
- TUI refreshes every 5-10 seconds

### Medium File (1000-10000 packets)  
- Progress updates every 2 seconds
- Flow updates every 100 packets (~10-100 times total)
- TUI refreshes every 5-10 seconds

### Large File (> 10000 packets)
- Progress updates every 2 seconds  
- Flow updates every 100 packets (100+ times total)
- TUI refreshes every 5-10 seconds

## Technical Details

### Thread Safety
- All update rate changes maintain thread safety
- Background parsing still uses proper locks and queues
- UI updates still use `call_from_thread()` for thread-safe UI updates

### Button Visibility Fix (Bonus)
- Buttons now pre-created at TUI initialization instead of dynamic creation
- Eliminates button creation delays during parsing
- Frame type buttons visible immediately: `[1. Overview] [2. CH10-Data] [3. UDP]` etc.

### Backward Compatibility
- All existing functionality preserved
- Same keyboard shortcuts (1-9,0 for filtering)
- Same data accuracy and completeness
- Same analysis features and reports

## Testing

Successfully tested with:
- ✅ Button creation at initialization
- ✅ Slower update rate configuration  
- ✅ Real PCAP file parsing (`1 PTPGM.pcapng`)
- ✅ TUI responsiveness and button visibility
- ✅ Parsing completion and final results

## Conclusion

The PCAP parsing is now much smoother with significantly reduced CPU usage while maintaining all functionality. Users will experience:

- **10x fewer flow update interruptions**
- **4x fewer progress update interruptions** 
- **5x less monitor thread overhead**
- **2-3x fewer TUI refresh interruptions**

The interface remains fully functional but is now much more pleasant to use during parsing operations.