Speeding up atan2f
Because of the disregard for the literature common in CS I loved this part:<p>> This is achieved through ...<i>and some cool documents from the 50s</i>.<p>A bit of anecdote: back when I was a research scientist (corporate lab) 30+ years ago I would in fact go downstairs to the library and read — I was still a kid with a lot to learn (and still am).  When I came across (by chance or by someone’s suggestion) something useful to my work I’d photocopy the article and and try it out.  I’d put a comment in the code with the reference.<p>My colleagues in my group would give me (undeserved) credit for my supposed brilliance even though I said in the code where the idea came from and would determinedly point to the very paper on my desk.  This attitude seemed bizarre as the group itself was producing conference papers and even books.<p>(Obviously this was not a universal phenomenon as there were other people in the lab overall, and friends on the net, suggesting papers to read.  But I’ve seen it a lot, from back then up to today)