Explore practical performance optimization techniques in C++ through the lens of ChaiScript's 100x improvement in this CppNow conference talk. Learn how simplifying code and adopting idiomatic C++ practices can lead to significant performance gains without resorting to complex solutions like virtual machines or dynamic recompilation. Discover key concepts such as thread safety, atomics, register allocation, and smart pointer usage, illustrated with real-world examples. Gain insights into optimizing file operations, handling newline characters, and avoiding common pitfalls in C++ programming. Delve into the most impactful optimization strategies and their practical applications, equipping yourself with valuable knowledge to enhance the performance of your C++ projects.