python memory use

[Gary Robinson]

The chart at http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/u32q/benchmark.php?test=all&lang=javasteady&lang2=python&box=1 is very interesting to me because it shows CPython using much less memory than Java for most tests.

I'd be interested in knowing whether anybody can share info about how representative those test results are. For instance, suppose we're talking about a huge dictionary that maps integers to lists of integers (something I use in my code). Would something like that really take up much more memory in Java (using the closest equivalent Java data structures) than in CPython? I find it hard to believe that that would be the case, but I'm quite curious.

(I could test the particular case I mention, but I'm wondering if someone has some fundamental knowledge that would lead to a basic understanding.)


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Gary Robinson
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Emergent Music, LLC
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