Turtle Animation Performance Optimization in Python

Professionals often encounter situations where their Turtle animations execute at an undesirable speed. While the tracer() method and experimenting with various numbers within it may seem insufficient, a simple yet effective solution lies elsewhere.

To achieve a normal animation speed using Turtle, it's crucial to avoid relying on while True: or sleep() constructs within an event-driven environment. These techniques are not optimal for Turtles. Instead, utilizing a Turtle timer event can provide a more efficient approach.

The following code demonstrates how to implement a timer-based windmill animation:

from turtle import Screen, Turtle

def rectangle(t):
    t.forward(50)
    t.left(90)
    t.backward(5)
    t.pendown()

    for _ in range(2):
        t.forward(10)
        t.right(90)
        t.forward(120)
        t.right(90)

    t.penup()

def windmill(t):
    for _ in range(4):
        t.penup()
        rectangle(t)
        t.goto(0, 0)

screen = Screen()
screen.tracer(0)

turtle = Turtle()
turtle.setheading(90)

def rotate():
    turtle.clear()
    windmill(turtle)
    screen.update()
    turtle.left(1)

    screen.ontimer(rotate, 40)  # adjust speed via second argument

rotate()

screen.mainloop()

By utilizing the ontimer() method, you have precise control over the animation speed through the second argument, which represents the time interval in milliseconds between each animation frame. Adjusting this value allows you to fine-tune the speed to your desired level, providing a smooth and visually appealing animation.