function calls vs aliases

dashtest2.el

;;; dashtest2.el --- benchmarking dash  -*- lexical-binding: t -*-

(defun -first-item-fn (lst)
  (car lst))

(defalias '-first-item-alias 'car)

(defun wh/benchmark ()
  (interactive)
  (let ((items (-repeat 20 'foo)))
    (message
     "as function (seconds): %s"
     (car (benchmark-run 100000 (-first-item-fn items))))
    (message
     "as alias (seconds): %s"
     (car (benchmark-run 100000 (-first-item-alias items))))
    (message
     "car (seconds): %s"
     (car (benchmark-run 100000 (car items))))))

;; as function (seconds): 0.13999088499999998
;; as alias (seconds): 0.005465521999999999
;; car (seconds): 0.005004648999999998