redef var length = 0

	redef fun length: Int do return uchar_string.code_points(code_units)

	redef var length is noinit

	redef fun length do
		sys.length_calls.inc "FlatString"
		var l = length_cache
		if l != null then return l
		sys.length_cache_miss.inc "FlatString"
		if byte_length == 0 then return 0
		var st = first_byte
		var its = items
		var ln = 0
		var lst = last_byte
		while st <= lst do
			st += its.length_of_char_at(st)
			ln += 1
		end
		length_cache = ln
		return ln
	end

	redef fun length do
		sys.length_calls.inc "FlatBuffer"
		return super
	end