John mentioned io buffering in his message. I guess Linux does it and 
Windows doesn't (OS level). The code I wrote which on Squeak was 4 times 
faster than Python on the Linux machine. I tried it on WindowsME and 
here are the results.

Python average about 3 seconds.
Squeak with the new code below.
33238
32220
32276
32349

Now this is 10 times faster on Windows than my code yesterday, but is 
still 10 times slower than the Python.

I guess it probably has to do with Python buffering io where Squeak 
doesn't. From my understanding of John's message.

When I get back home later I'll try it on my iMac.

Jimmie Houchin


Jimmie Houchin wrote:
> On Fri, 2002-05-10 at 15:07, Jimmie Houchin wrote:
> [snip of original message]
> 
> Thanks to all who replied.
> 
> After I got home I copied my code into Python and Squeak with
> appropriate platform directory modifications. And ran the tests again.
> 
> On WindowsME I got a 100:1 Squeak:Python ratio.
> Not what I hoped for.
> 
> My initial tests for the same code on my Debian Linux (Sid) machine
> running a 700mhz Athlon with 256mb ram.
> File size 4960156
> 
> Python 2.1.x
> 1.948
> 1.967
> 1.058
> 1.078
> 1.069
> 
> Squeak 3.1current Unix VM with 3.2gamma4857 image
> 55272
> 55280
> 55610
> 
> Just with a different platform VM it went to a 
> 55:1 Squeak:Python ratio.
> 
> Then I went to work with your suggestions. Except I forgot to do a
> messageTally. Sorry. :)
> 
> Here's the new Squeak code.
> My apologies if there are any errors. I had to type it in. For some
> reason I couldn't copy and paste from Squeak into Evolution.
> I know, I'm not up to speed with Celeste yet. :(
> 
> |file1 file2|
> Transcript show:
> [file1 := StandardFileStream new.
> file1 open: '/home/jimmie/test/testfile.txt' forWrite: false.
> file1 := ReadStream on: file1 contentsOfEntireFile.
> file1 reset.
> file2 := StandardFileStream new.
> file2 open: '/home/jimmie/test/testfile2.txt' forWrite: true.
> 
> [file1 atEnd] whileFalse:
> [file2 nextPutAll: file1 nextLine; cr].
> 
> file2 flush.
> file2 close.] timeToRun.
> 
> I am still using the 'file1 atEnd' as a condition for iteration. I
> haven't figured out another way to iterate thru the file line by line.
> Nevertheless here are my new Squeak results.
> 
> 307
> 239
> 231
> 230
> 233
> 
> Making the new Squeak to Python ration 1:4 being generous. :)
> 
> I am much happier with these results.
> While I am not confident of it being totally optimized, it is
> tremendously better. I will try it again tomorrow on the Windows
> machine.
> 
> Thanks again for everyone's help.
> 
> Next I'll try something more interesting, searching each line for
> certain criteria and modifying certain lines.
> 
> Jimmie Houchin
> 
> 
> 
>