Add memory optimization improvements for reduced GC pressure (v0.36.16)

- Add buffer pool (pkg/database/bufpool) with SmallPool (64B) and MediumPool (1KB)
  for reusing bytes.Buffer instances on hot paths
- Fix escape analysis in index types (uint40, letter, word) by using fixed-size
  arrays instead of make() calls that escape to heap
- Add handler concurrency limiter (ORLY_MAX_HANDLERS_PER_CONN, default 100) to
  prevent unbounded goroutine growth under WebSocket load
- Add pre-allocation hints to Uint40s.Union/Intersection/Difference methods
- Update compact_event.go, save-event.go, serial_cache.go, and
  get-indexes-for-event.go to use pooled buffers

Files modified:
- app/config/config.go: Add MaxHandlersPerConnection config
- app/handle-websocket.go: Initialize handler semaphore
- app/listener.go: Add semaphore acquire/release in messageProcessor
- pkg/database/bufpool/pool.go: New buffer pool package
- pkg/database/compact_event.go: Use buffer pool, fix escape analysis
- pkg/database/get-indexes-for-event.go: Reuse single buffer for all indexes
- pkg/database/indexes/types/letter.go: Fixed array in UnmarshalRead
- pkg/database/indexes/types/uint40.go: Fixed arrays, pre-allocation hints
- pkg/database/indexes/types/word.go: Fixed array in UnmarshalRead
- pkg/database/save-event.go: Use buffer pool for key encoding
- pkg/database/serial_cache.go: Use buffer pool for lookups

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

pkg/database/bufpool/pool.go

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+//go:build !(js && wasm)
+
+// Package bufpool provides buffer pools for reducing GC pressure in hot paths.
+//
+// Two pool sizes are provided:
+//   - SmallPool (64 bytes): For index keys, serial encoding, short buffers
+//   - MediumPool (1KB): For event encoding, larger serialization buffers
+//
+// Usage:
+//
+//	buf := bufpool.GetSmall()
+//	defer bufpool.PutSmall(buf)
+//	// Use buf...
+//	// IMPORTANT: Copy buf.Bytes() before Put if data is needed after
+package bufpool
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+const (
+	// SmallBufferSize for index keys (8-64 bytes typical)
+	SmallBufferSize = 64
+
+	// MediumBufferSize for event encoding (300-1000 bytes typical)
+	MediumBufferSize = 1024
+)
+
+var (
+	// smallPool for index keys and short encodings
+	smallPool = sync.Pool{
+		New: func() interface{} {
+			return bytes.NewBuffer(make([]byte, 0, SmallBufferSize))
+		},
+	}
+
+	// mediumPool for event encoding and larger buffers
+	mediumPool = sync.Pool{
+		New: func() interface{} {
+			return bytes.NewBuffer(make([]byte, 0, MediumBufferSize))
+		},
+	}
+)
+
+// GetSmall returns a small buffer (64 bytes) from the pool.
+// Call PutSmall when done to return it to the pool.
+//
+// WARNING: Copy buf.Bytes() before calling PutSmall if the data
+// is needed after the buffer is returned to the pool.
+func GetSmall() *bytes.Buffer {
+	return smallPool.Get().(*bytes.Buffer)
+}
+
+// PutSmall returns a small buffer to the pool.
+// The buffer is reset before being returned.
+func PutSmall(buf *bytes.Buffer) {
+	if buf == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	buf.Reset()
+	smallPool.Put(buf)
+}
+
+// GetMedium returns a medium buffer (1KB) from the pool.
+// Call PutMedium when done to return it to the pool.
+//
+// WARNING: Copy buf.Bytes() before calling PutMedium if the data
+// is needed after the buffer is returned to the pool.
+func GetMedium() *bytes.Buffer {
+	return mediumPool.Get().(*bytes.Buffer)
+}
+
+// PutMedium returns a medium buffer to the pool.
+// The buffer is reset before being returned.
+func PutMedium(buf *bytes.Buffer) {
+	if buf == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	buf.Reset()
+	mediumPool.Put(buf)
+}
+
+// CopyBytes copies the buffer contents to a new slice.
+// Use this before returning the buffer to the pool if the
+// data needs to persist.
+func CopyBytes(buf *bytes.Buffer) []byte {
+	if buf == nil || buf.Len() == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	result := make([]byte, buf.Len())
+	copy(result, buf.Bytes())
+	return result
+}

pkg/database/compact_event.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"git.mleku.dev/mleku/nostr/encoders/tag"
 	"git.mleku.dev/mleku/nostr/encoders/varint"
 	"lol.mleku.dev/chk"
+	"next.orly.dev/pkg/database/bufpool"
 )
 
 // CompactEventFormat defines the binary format for compact event storage.
@@ -72,7 +73,8 @@ type SerialResolver interface {
 // MarshalCompactEvent encodes an event using compact serial references.
 // The resolver is used to look up/create serial mappings for pubkeys and event IDs.
 func MarshalCompactEvent(ev *event.E, resolver SerialResolver) (data []byte, err error) {
-	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
+	buf := bufpool.GetMedium()
+	defer bufpool.PutMedium(buf)
 
 	// Version byte
 	buf.WriteByte(CompactFormatVersion)
@@ -109,7 +111,8 @@ func MarshalCompactEvent(ev *event.E, resolver SerialResolver) (data []byte, err
 	// Signature (64 bytes)
 	buf.Write(ev.Sig)
 
-	return buf.Bytes(), nil
+	// Copy bytes before returning buffer to pool
+	return bufpool.CopyBytes(buf), nil
 }
 
 // encodeCompactTag encodes a single tag with serial references for e/p tags.
@@ -221,8 +224,8 @@ func writeUint40(w io.Writer, value uint64) {
 
 // readUint40 reads a 5-byte big-endian unsigned integer.
 func readUint40(r io.Reader) (value uint64, err error) {
-	buf := make([]byte, 5)
-	if _, err = io.ReadFull(r, buf); err != nil {
+	var buf [5]byte // Fixed array avoids heap escape
+	if _, err = io.ReadFull(r, buf[:]); err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
 	value = (uint64(buf[0]) << 32) |
@@ -331,9 +334,9 @@ func decodeCompactTag(r io.Reader, resolver SerialResolver) (t *tag.T, err error
 
 // decodeTagElement decodes a single tag element from compact format.
 func decodeTagElement(r io.Reader, resolver SerialResolver) (elem []byte, err error) {
-	// Read type flag
-	typeBuf := make([]byte, 1)
-	if _, err = io.ReadFull(r, typeBuf); err != nil {
+	// Read type flag (fixed array avoids heap escape)
+	var typeBuf [1]byte
+	if _, err = io.ReadFull(r, typeBuf[:]); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	typeFlag := typeBuf[0]

pkg/database/get-indexes-for-event.go

@@ -4,21 +4,22 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 
 	"lol.mleku.dev/chk"
+	"next.orly.dev/pkg/database/bufpool"
 	"next.orly.dev/pkg/database/indexes"
 	. "next.orly.dev/pkg/database/indexes/types"
 	"git.mleku.dev/mleku/nostr/encoders/event"
 )
 
-// appendIndexBytes marshals an index to a byte slice and appends it to the idxs slice
-func appendIndexBytes(idxs *[][]byte, idx *indexes.T) (err error) {
-	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
+// appendIndexBytes marshals an index to a byte slice and appends it to the idxs slice.
+// It reuses the provided buffer (resetting it first) to avoid allocations.
+func appendIndexBytes(idxs *[][]byte, idx *indexes.T, buf *bytes.Buffer) (err error) {
+	buf.Reset()
 	// Marshal the index to the buffer
 	if err = idx.MarshalWrite(buf); chk.E(err) {
 		return
 	}
-	// Copy the buffer's bytes to a new byte slice
-	// Append the byte slice to the idxs slice
-	*idxs = append(*idxs, buf.Bytes())
+	// Copy the buffer's bytes to a new byte slice and append
+	*idxs = append(*idxs, bufpool.CopyBytes(buf))
 	return
 }
 
@@ -28,6 +29,10 @@ func appendIndexBytes(idxs *[][]byte, idx *indexes.T) (err error) {
 func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 	idxs [][]byte, err error,
 ) {
+	// Get a reusable buffer for all index serializations
+	buf := bufpool.GetSmall()
+	defer bufpool.PutSmall(buf)
+
 	defer func() {
 		if chk.E(err) {
 			idxs = nil
@@ -44,7 +49,7 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 		return
 	}
 	idIndex := indexes.IdEnc(idHash, ser)
-	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, idIndex); chk.E(err) {
+	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, idIndex, buf); chk.E(err) {
 		return
 	}
 	// FullIdPubkey index
@@ -61,17 +66,17 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 	idPubkeyIndex := indexes.FullIdPubkeyEnc(
 		ser, fullID, pubHash, createdAt,
 	)
-	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, idPubkeyIndex); chk.E(err) {
+	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, idPubkeyIndex, buf); chk.E(err) {
 		return
 	}
 	// CreatedAt index
 	createdAtIndex := indexes.CreatedAtEnc(createdAt, ser)
-	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, createdAtIndex); chk.E(err) {
+	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, createdAtIndex, buf); chk.E(err) {
 		return
 	}
 	// PubkeyCreatedAt index
 	pubkeyIndex := indexes.PubkeyEnc(pubHash, createdAt, ser)
-	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, pubkeyIndex); chk.E(err) {
+	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, pubkeyIndex, buf); chk.E(err) {
 		return
 	}
 	// Process tags for tag-related indexes
@@ -101,7 +106,7 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 					key, valueHash, pubHash, createdAt, ser,
 				)
 				if err = appendIndexBytes(
-					&idxs, pubkeyTagIndex,
+					&idxs, pubkeyTagIndex, buf,
 				); chk.E(err) {
 					return
 				}
@@ -110,7 +115,7 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 					key, valueHash, createdAt, ser,
 				)
 				if err = appendIndexBytes(
-					&idxs, tagIndex,
+					&idxs, tagIndex, buf,
 				); chk.E(err) {
 					return
 				}
@@ -122,7 +127,7 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 					key, valueHash, kind, createdAt, ser,
 				)
 				if err = appendIndexBytes(
-					&idxs, kindTagIndex,
+					&idxs, kindTagIndex, buf,
 				); chk.E(err) {
 					return
 				}
@@ -131,7 +136,7 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 					key, valueHash, kind, pubHash, createdAt, ser,
 				)
 				if err = appendIndexBytes(
-					&idxs, kindPubkeyTagIndex,
+					&idxs, kindPubkeyTagIndex, buf,
 				); chk.E(err) {
 					return
 				}
@@ -142,7 +147,7 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 	kind.Set(uint16(ev.Kind))
 	// Kind index
 	kindIndex := indexes.KindEnc(kind, createdAt, ser)
-	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, kindIndex); chk.E(err) {
+	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, kindIndex, buf); chk.E(err) {
 		return
 	}
 	// KindPubkey index
@@ -150,7 +155,7 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 	kindPubkeyIndex := indexes.KindPubkeyEnc(
 		kind, pubHash, createdAt, ser,
 	)
-	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, kindPubkeyIndex); chk.E(err) {
+	if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, kindPubkeyIndex, buf); chk.E(err) {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -160,7 +165,7 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 			w := new(Word)
 			w.FromWord(h) // 8-byte truncated hash
 			wIdx := indexes.WordEnc(w, ser)
-			if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, wIdx); chk.E(err) {
+			if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, wIdx, buf); chk.E(err) {
 				return
 			}
 		}
@@ -176,7 +181,7 @@ func GetIndexesForEvent(ev *event.E, serial uint64) (
 					w := new(Word)
 					w.FromWord(h)
 					wIdx := indexes.WordEnc(w, ser)
-					if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, wIdx); chk.E(err) {
+					if err = appendIndexBytes(&idxs, wIdx, buf); chk.E(err) {
 						return
 					}
 				}

pkg/database/indexes/types/letter.go

@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ func (p *Letter) MarshalWrite(w io.Writer) (err error) {
 }
 
 func (p *Letter) UnmarshalRead(r io.Reader) (err error) {
-	val := make([]byte, 1)
-	if _, err = r.Read(val); chk.E(err) {
+	var val [1]byte // Fixed array avoids heap escape
+	if _, err = r.Read(val[:]); chk.E(err) {
 		return
 	}
 	p.val = val[0]

pkg/database/indexes/types/uint40.go

@@ -46,23 +46,23 @@ func (c *Uint40) MarshalWrite(w io.Writer) (err error) {
 	if c.value > MaxUint40 {
 		return errors.New("value exceeds 40-bit range")
 	}
-	// Buffer for the 5 bytes
-	buf := make([]byte, 5)
+	// Fixed array avoids heap escape
+	var buf [5]byte
 	// Write the upper 5 bytes (ignoring the most significant 3 bytes of uint64)
 	buf[0] = byte((c.value >> 32) & 0xFF) // Most significant byte
 	buf[1] = byte((c.value >> 24) & 0xFF)
 	buf[2] = byte((c.value >> 16) & 0xFF)
 	buf[3] = byte((c.value >> 8) & 0xFF)
 	buf[4] = byte(c.value & 0xFF) // Least significant byte
-	_, err = w.Write(buf)
+	_, err = w.Write(buf[:])
 	return err
 }
 
 // UnmarshalRead reads 5 bytes from the provided reader and decodes it into a 40-bit unsigned integer.
 func (c *Uint40) UnmarshalRead(r io.Reader) (err error) {
-	// Buffer for the 5 bytes
-	buf := make([]byte, 5)
-	_, err = r.Read(buf)
+	// Fixed array avoids heap escape
+	var buf [5]byte
+	_, err = r.Read(buf[:])
 	if chk.E(err) {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -81,8 +81,9 @@ type Uint40s []*Uint40
 // Union computes the union of the current Uint40s slice with another Uint40s slice. The result
 // contains all unique elements from both slices.
 func (s Uint40s) Union(other Uint40s) Uint40s {
-	valueMap := make(map[uint64]bool)
-	var result Uint40s
+	totalCap := len(s) + len(other)
+	valueMap := make(map[uint64]bool, totalCap)
+	result := make(Uint40s, 0, totalCap) // Pre-allocate for worst case
 
 	// Add elements from the current Uint40s slice to the result
 	for _, item := range s {
@@ -108,8 +109,13 @@ func (s Uint40s) Union(other Uint40s) Uint40s {
 // Intersection computes the intersection of the current Uint40s slice with another Uint40s
 // slice. The result contains only the elements that exist in both slices.
 func (s Uint40s) Intersection(other Uint40s) Uint40s {
-	valueMap := make(map[uint64]bool)
-	var result Uint40s
+	// Result can be at most the size of the smaller slice
+	smallerLen := len(s)
+	if len(other) < smallerLen {
+		smallerLen = len(other)
+	}
+	valueMap := make(map[uint64]bool, len(other))
+	result := make(Uint40s, 0, smallerLen) // Pre-allocate for worst case
 
 	// Add all elements from the other Uint40s slice to the map
 	for _, item := range other {
@@ -131,8 +137,8 @@ func (s Uint40s) Intersection(other Uint40s) Uint40s {
 // The result contains only the elements that are in the current slice but not in the other
 // slice.
 func (s Uint40s) Difference(other Uint40s) Uint40s {
-	valueMap := make(map[uint64]bool)
-	var result Uint40s
+	valueMap := make(map[uint64]bool, len(other))
+	result := make(Uint40s, 0, len(s)) // Pre-allocate for worst case (no overlap)
 
 	// Mark all elements in the other Uint40s slice
 	for _, item := range other {

pkg/database/indexes/types/word.go

@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ func (w *Word) MarshalWrite(wr io.Writer) (err error) {
 // UnmarshalRead reads the word from the reader, stopping at the zero-byte marker
 func (w *Word) UnmarshalRead(r io.Reader) error {
 	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-	tmp := make([]byte, 1)
+	var tmp [1]byte // Fixed array avoids heap escape
 	foundEndMarker := false
 
 	// Read bytes until the zero byte is encountered
 	for {
-		n, err := r.Read(tmp)
+		n, err := r.Read(tmp[:])
 		if n > 0 {
 			if tmp[0] == 0x00 { // Stop on encountering the zero-byte marker
 				foundEndMarker = true

pkg/database/save-event.go

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 package database
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -12,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/dgraph-io/badger/v4"
 	"lol.mleku.dev/chk"
 	"lol.mleku.dev/log"
+	"next.orly.dev/pkg/database/bufpool"
 	"next.orly.dev/pkg/database/indexes"
 	"next.orly.dev/pkg/database/indexes/types"
 	"next.orly.dev/pkg/mode"
@@ -277,14 +277,15 @@ func (d *D) SaveEvent(c context.Context, ev *event.E) (
 
 	// Calculate legacy size for comparison (for metrics tracking)
 	// We marshal to get accurate size comparison
-	legacyBuf := new(bytes.Buffer)
+	legacyBuf := bufpool.GetMedium()
+	defer bufpool.PutMedium(legacyBuf)
 	ev.MarshalBinary(legacyBuf)
 	legacySize := legacyBuf.Len()
 
 	if compactErr != nil {
 		// Fall back to legacy format if compact encoding fails
 		log.W.F("SaveEvent: compact encoding failed, using legacy format: %v", compactErr)
-		compactData = legacyBuf.Bytes()
+		compactData = bufpool.CopyBytes(legacyBuf)
 	} else {
 		// Track storage savings
 		TrackCompactSaving(legacySize, len(compactData))
@@ -322,13 +323,16 @@ func (d *D) SaveEvent(c context.Context, ev *event.E) (
 			// Format: cmp|serial|compact_event_data
 			// This is the only storage format - legacy evt/sev/aev/rev prefixes
 			// are handled by migration and no longer written for new events
-			cmpKeyBuf := new(bytes.Buffer)
+			cmpKeyBuf := bufpool.GetSmall()
 			if err = indexes.CompactEventEnc(ser).MarshalWrite(cmpKeyBuf); chk.E(err) {
+				bufpool.PutSmall(cmpKeyBuf)
 				return
 			}
-			if err = txn.Set(cmpKeyBuf.Bytes(), compactData); chk.E(err) {
+			if err = txn.Set(bufpool.CopyBytes(cmpKeyBuf), compactData); chk.E(err) {
+				bufpool.PutSmall(cmpKeyBuf)
 				return
 			}
+			bufpool.PutSmall(cmpKeyBuf)
 
 			// Create graph edges between event and all related pubkeys
 			// This creates bidirectional edges: event->pubkey and pubkey->event
@@ -336,6 +340,10 @@ func (d *D) SaveEvent(c context.Context, ev *event.E) (
 			eventKind := new(types.Uint16)
 			eventKind.Set(ev.Kind)
 
+			// Reuse a single buffer for graph edge keys (reset between uses)
+			graphKeyBuf := bufpool.GetSmall()
+			defer bufpool.PutSmall(graphKeyBuf)
+
 			for _, pkInfo := range pubkeysForGraph {
 				// Determine direction for forward edge (event -> pubkey perspective)
 				directionForward := new(types.Letter)
@@ -353,23 +361,20 @@ func (d *D) SaveEvent(c context.Context, ev *event.E) (
 				}
 
 				// Create event -> pubkey edge (with kind and direction)
-				epgKeyBuf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-				if err = indexes.EventPubkeyGraphEnc(ser, pkInfo.serial, eventKind, directionForward).MarshalWrite(epgKeyBuf); chk.E(err) {
+				graphKeyBuf.Reset()
+				if err = indexes.EventPubkeyGraphEnc(ser, pkInfo.serial, eventKind, directionForward).MarshalWrite(graphKeyBuf); chk.E(err) {
 					return
 				}
-				// Make a copy of the key bytes to avoid buffer reuse issues in txn
-				epgKey := make([]byte, epgKeyBuf.Len())
-				copy(epgKey, epgKeyBuf.Bytes())
-				if err = txn.Set(epgKey, nil); chk.E(err) {
+				if err = txn.Set(bufpool.CopyBytes(graphKeyBuf), nil); chk.E(err) {
 					return
 				}
 
 				// Create pubkey -> event edge (reverse, with kind and direction for filtering)
-				pegKeyBuf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-				if err = indexes.PubkeyEventGraphEnc(pkInfo.serial, eventKind, directionReverse, ser).MarshalWrite(pegKeyBuf); chk.E(err) {
+				graphKeyBuf.Reset()
+				if err = indexes.PubkeyEventGraphEnc(pkInfo.serial, eventKind, directionReverse, ser).MarshalWrite(graphKeyBuf); chk.E(err) {
 					return
 				}
-				if err = txn.Set(pegKeyBuf.Bytes(), nil); chk.E(err) {
+				if err = txn.Set(bufpool.CopyBytes(graphKeyBuf), nil); chk.E(err) {
 					return
 				}
 			}
@@ -397,25 +402,22 @@ func (d *D) SaveEvent(c context.Context, ev *event.E) (
 					// Create forward edge: source event -> target event (outbound e-tag)
 					directionOut := new(types.Letter)
 					directionOut.Set(types.EdgeDirectionETagOut)
-					eegKeyBuf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-					if err = indexes.EventEventGraphEnc(ser, targetSerial, eventKind, directionOut).MarshalWrite(eegKeyBuf); chk.E(err) {
+					graphKeyBuf.Reset()
+					if err = indexes.EventEventGraphEnc(ser, targetSerial, eventKind, directionOut).MarshalWrite(graphKeyBuf); chk.E(err) {
 						return
 					}
-					// Make a copy of the key bytes to avoid buffer reuse issues in txn
-					eegKey := make([]byte, eegKeyBuf.Len())
-					copy(eegKey, eegKeyBuf.Bytes())
-					if err = txn.Set(eegKey, nil); chk.E(err) {
+					if err = txn.Set(bufpool.CopyBytes(graphKeyBuf), nil); chk.E(err) {
 						return
 					}
 
 					// Create reverse edge: target event -> source event (inbound e-tag)
 					directionIn := new(types.Letter)
 					directionIn.Set(types.EdgeDirectionETagIn)
-					geeKeyBuf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-					if err = indexes.GraphEventEventEnc(targetSerial, eventKind, directionIn, ser).MarshalWrite(geeKeyBuf); chk.E(err) {
+					graphKeyBuf.Reset()
+					if err = indexes.GraphEventEventEnc(targetSerial, eventKind, directionIn, ser).MarshalWrite(graphKeyBuf); chk.E(err) {
 						return
 					}
-					if err = txn.Set(geeKeyBuf.Bytes(), nil); chk.E(err) {
+					if err = txn.Set(bufpool.CopyBytes(graphKeyBuf), nil); chk.E(err) {
 						return
 					}
 				}

pkg/database/serial_cache.go

@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 package database
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/dgraph-io/badger/v4"
 	"lol.mleku.dev/chk"
+	"next.orly.dev/pkg/database/bufpool"
 	"next.orly.dev/pkg/database/indexes"
 	"next.orly.dev/pkg/database/indexes/types"
 )
@@ -281,7 +281,8 @@ func (r *DatabaseSerialResolver) GetEventIdBySerial(serial uint64) (eventId []by
 // GetEventIdBySerial looks up an event ID by its serial number.
 // Uses the SerialEventId index (sei prefix).
 func (d *D) GetEventIdBySerial(ser *types.Uint40) (eventId []byte, err error) {
-	keyBuf := new(bytes.Buffer)
+	keyBuf := bufpool.GetSmall()
+	defer bufpool.PutSmall(keyBuf)
 	if err = indexes.SerialEventIdEnc(ser).MarshalWrite(keyBuf); chk.E(err) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -318,12 +319,13 @@ func (d *D) StoreEventIdSerial(txn *badger.Txn, serial uint64, eventId []byte) e
 		return err
 	}
 
-	keyBuf := new(bytes.Buffer)
+	keyBuf := bufpool.GetSmall()
+	defer bufpool.PutSmall(keyBuf)
 	if err := indexes.SerialEventIdEnc(ser).MarshalWrite(keyBuf); chk.E(err) {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return txn.Set(keyBuf.Bytes(), eventId)
+	return txn.Set(bufpool.CopyBytes(keyBuf), eventId)
 }
 
 // SerialCacheStats holds statistics about the serial cache.