> From: Doug Way [mailto:dway at riskmetrics.com]
> 
> The advantage to primitive types comes with the raw speed 
> advantage.  Although it is possible to get objects (such as 
> SmallInteger) somewhat close to primitive-type speed by using 
> various tricks, from what I've heard.

In the C/Smalltalk "duel" I mentioned earlier, not only did the C code take
three hours to write (vs. 2 seconds for the equivalent Smalltalk), but the
two ran at about the same speed.  I think the speed advantage of primitive
types for everything except *perhaps* heavy-duty number crunching has been
overstated.  In typical day-to-day use I've found that Smalltalk is as fast
or faster than languages which support primitive types, and if you factor in
the reduced development time of Smalltalk then the win for Smalltalk is very
clear.  YMMV.

Bob Jarvis
Compuware @ Timken


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