Perl code 37 times quickly than Python code??

[Garry Hodgson]

Alex Martelli wrote:
> 
> "Garry Hodgson" <garry at sage.att.com> wrote in message
> news:3C458E7E.725EA0A5 at sage.att.com...
>     ...
> > if you need speed, go with a compiled language.
> 
> If you need speed, code in Python.  Then, benchmark, profile and
> extensively analyze the performance characteristics of your code.
> Experiment with widely different architectures.  If you can still
> boil things down to irreducible CPU-bound bottlenecks, as the last
> resort recode THOSE parts only (as an extension, in C or C++) in
> the rare but possible case in which existing extensions (such as
> Numeric) cannot meet your performance needs.
> 
> This would be MY advice, at least.

good advice, in general.  but writing an extension is non-trivial, and
neither c nor c++ is my first choice to write in.  in my case, i'm 
parsing very large (gigabyte) files, and ocaml is doing so nicely
(though it still takes a half an hour or so on a big sun machine).


-- 
Garry Hodgson                   Let my inspiration flow
Senior Hacker                      in token rhyme suggesting rhythm
Software Innovation Services    that will not forsake me
AT&T Labs                          'til my tale is told and done.
garry at sage.att.com