sorting list of complex numbers
skip at pobox.com
skip at pobox.com
Sun Nov 9 21:49:29 EST 2008
>> Timeit suggests the single sort returning the real, imag tuples is
>> faster than two sorts each on one field, as you might expect since
>> many fewer calls to the key function are made.
Steve> Only half the number, of course. The advantage of the key
Steve> function is that each element requires only one call out to a
Steve> Python function, and the comparisons then take place using a
Steve> C-coded comparison function.
Steve> But you knew that already, right?
I knew about the C comparison function, not about the number of key calls.
I sort of assumed the key function was called whenever necessary since it
could have side effects. I confirmed that the key function is called once
per element instead of once per comparison.
Thanks,
Skip
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