This helps ensure that if your software runs in 10ms on the test data set, then it will always run in 10ms on all data sets. In general, it is recommended to av

This helps ensure that if your software runs in 10ms on the test data set, then it will always run in 10ms on all data sets. In general, it is recommended to avoid "best case" optimization, so that your critical software is always running with "worst case" performance. EDIT: On re-reading your message and the message it is responding to, I believe you are meaning opposite things by "sentinel".