# How to speed up ruby and make it as fast as possible **URL:** \ **Category:** ruby-talk\ **Created:** [14 July 2006 14:47 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-speed-up-ruby-and-make-it-as-fast-as-possible/28965 "2006-07-14T14:47:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jamal\_Mazrui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@Jamal\_Mazrui](https://rubytalk.org/u/Jamal_Mazrui)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 14:47 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-speed-up-ruby-and-make-it-as-fast-as-possible/28965/1 "2006-07-14T14:47:50Z")
> Write it C. I find this answer to be unsatisfactory. I do not know C and neither do many others who like Ruby but want better performance. The knowledge and syntax demands of programming in Ruby and C are worlds apart. It is not much different than telling someone to go code in (modern) Assembler! I think the more that Rubyists acknowledge and try to directly solve the language's performance hindrance rather than rationalizing it away, the better the prospects for the success of our beloved language. Of course, better algorithms can produce better performance, but that argument is also true for the languages with which Ruby compares unfavorably in performance. Please do not claim that Ruby's adoption by others is irrelevant: a good idea is worth spreading, and the more users, the better library support and learning resources available to us all. Also, please do not tell me to rewrite Ruby, myself, if I care about performance. As stated, I do not know C or have the interest and time to devote to such an undertaking. I do promote Ruby to friends and colleagues in ways that I can. We should be able to have a legitimate desire for language improvements without being characterized as ignoramuses, nay-sayers or lazy spectators. Regards, Jamal > **···** > > -----Original Message----- > From: list-bounce@example.com [mailto:list-bounce@example.com] On Behalf > Of Reggie Mr > Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 6:56 AM ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Sibilev1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9d8465/32.png) [@Kent\_Sibilev1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Kent_Sibilev1)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 15:12 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-speed-up-ruby-and-make-it-as-fast-as-possible/28965/2 "2006-07-14T15:12:49Z")
I find this attitude is quite amazing. We all know that Ruby is not a best language in terms of performance. Even if we had Ruby 2.0 (YARV) delivered to us, Ruby's performance would still be a way behind those strong typed languges like ocaml or java. If you want to keep using Ruby, but sometimes you need a raw performance, you should learn C. It's not that bad, you know. If you always need a raw performance, then probably you are not using right tool for the job. just my 2 cents. > **···** > > On 7/14/06, Jamal Mazrui \ wrote: > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: list-bounce@example.com [mailto:list-bounce@example.com] On Behalf > > Of Reggie Mr > > Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 6:56 AM > > > > \> Write it C. > > > > I find this answer to be unsatisfactory. I do not know C and neither do > > many others who like Ruby but want better performance. The knowledge > > and syntax demands of programming in Ruby and C are worlds apart. It is > > not much different than telling someone to go code in (modern) > > Assembler! > > > > I think the more that Rubyists acknowledge and try to directly solve the > > language's performance hindrance rather than rationalizing it away, the > > better the prospects for the success of our beloved language. Of > > course, better algorithms can produce better performance, but that > > argument is also true for the languages with which Ruby compares > > unfavorably in performance. Please do not claim that Ruby's adoption by > > others is irrelevant: a good idea is worth spreading, and the more > > users, the better library support and learning resources available to us > > all. > > Also, please do not tell me to rewrite Ruby, myself, if I care about > > performance. As stated, I do not know C or have the interest and time > > to devote to such an undertaking. I do promote Ruby to friends and > > colleagues in ways that I can. We should be able to have a legitimate > > desire for language improvements without being characterized as > > ignoramuses, nay-sayers or lazy spectators. > > > > Regards, > > Jamal > > -- > Kent > --- > > > **[DATANOISE.COM](https://www.datanoise.com)** > > > > DATANOISE.COM - Contact us for any business inquiries ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Hickman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecd19e/32.png) [@Peter\_Hickman](https://rubytalk.org/u/Peter_Hickman)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 15:24 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-speed-up-ruby-and-make-it-as-fast-as-possible/28965/3 "2006-07-14T15:24:03Z")
We all want Ruby to be faster but if the speed at which your application runs at is your priority then I'm afraid that Ruby is not good enough. Neither is Python, Perl, Java or any other language. In extremis even C isn't good enough and only assembler will do. Please do not sell Ruby as the Golden Hammer that can do anything better than any other language, it quite clearly cannot do that. You will do Ruby a disservice and people will question your ability to make a sound technical judgement. Of course there are many things that you can do to make a Ruby program faster, like writing better code 🙂 A programming language is simply a tool and not everything is a nail. ---
**Author:** ![gregarican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@gregarican](https://rubytalk.org/u/gregarican)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 15:45 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-speed-up-ruby-and-make-it-as-fast-as-possible/28965/4 "2006-07-14T15:45:10Z")
I prefer to use Ruby for \_most\_ of my programming work, but still couldn't imagine using it for every single task. It's just one tool of many. And the more of these tools you can pick up and use that much better of a craftsman you will be. That being said, I would strongly recommend you do learn C. The Ruby interpreter relies on it, Ruby has a very clean, logical interface with it, and learning it would allow you to tap into a whole other world of available libraries. Just review some of Pickaxe for basic details about how it can help make your life easier, not more complex. Plus, as others have mentioned, learning it would allow to use it for performance critical portions of your work. Bad analogy maybe, but being a programmer and not knowing any C is like a guitarist now knowing any Led Zeppelin 🙂 Jamal Mazrui wrote: > **···** > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: list-bounce@example.com [mailto:list-bounce@example.com] On Behalf > > Of Reggie Mr > > Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 6:56 AM > > > > \> Write it C. > > > > I find this answer to be unsatisfactory. I do not know C and neither do > > many others who like Ruby but want better performance. The knowledge > > and syntax demands of programming in Ruby and C are worlds apart. It is > > not much different than telling someone to go code in (modern) > > Assembler! > > > > I think the more that Rubyists acknowledge and try to directly solve the > > language's performance hindrance rather than rationalizing it away, the > > better the prospects for the success of our beloved language. Of > > course, better algorithms can produce better performance, but that > > argument is also true for the languages with which Ruby compares > > unfavorably in performance. Please do not claim that Ruby's adoption by > > others is irrelevant: a good idea is worth spreading, and the more > > users, the better library support and learning resources available to us > > all. > > Also, please do not tell me to rewrite Ruby, myself, if I care about > > performance. As stated, I do not know C or have the interest and time > > to devote to such an undertaking. I do promote Ruby to friends and > > colleagues in ways that I can. We should be able to have a legitimate > > desire for language improvements without being characterized as > > ignoramuses, nay-sayers or lazy spectators. > > > > Regards, > > Jamal ---
**Author:** ![Collins\_Justin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@Collins\_Justin](https://rubytalk.org/u/Collins_Justin)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 17:50 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-speed-up-ruby-and-make-it-as-fast-as-possible/28965/5 "2006-07-14T17:50:16Z")
Jamal Mazrui wrote: > From: list-bounce@example.com [mailto:list-bounce@example.com] On Behalf > Of Reggie Mr > Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 6:56 AM > > > Write it C. > >      > > I find this answer to be unsatisfactory. I do not know C and neither do > > many others who like Ruby but want better performance. The knowledge > > and syntax demands of programming in Ruby and C are worlds apart. It is > > not much different than telling someone to go code in (modern) > > Assembler! > > I think the more that Rubyists acknowledge and try to directly solve the > language's performance hindrance rather than rationalizing it away, the > better the prospects for the success of our beloved language. [snip] >    I don't think people are ignoring Ruby's performance or rationalizing it away. That's why all that work is going into YARV for Ruby2. That's why there is ruby2c. There are people who are consciously working towards a better performing Ruby. As far as I understand it, there is plenty of room for Ruby to improve (performance has not been a top priority previously), so I have no doubt that we will see a faster Ruby in the future. However, if you want an immediate solution, then the solution is to use another language or link to another language from Ruby. The helpful people on this list are also very practical, so when someone says, "How do I make my Ruby program run faster?" instead of answering, "Sorry, you can't" they give practical advice. Sorry to be blunt, but if you are not contributing to improving Ruby's performance, then you (and I 🙂 will need to be patient and wait for the newer, faster, even more awesome versions of Ruby to come out. -Justin > **···** > > > -----Original Message----- ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_McGovern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ccd318/32.png) [@Ryan\_McGovern](https://rubytalk.org/u/Ryan_McGovern)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 15:27 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-speed-up-ruby-and-make-it-as-fast-as-possible/28965/6 "2006-07-14T15:27:56Z")
"I find this answer to be unsatisfactory. I do not know C and neither do many others who like Ruby but want better performance. The knowledge and syntax demands of programming in Ruby and C are worlds apart. It is not much different than telling someone to go code in (modern) Assembler! " Assembler is not that bad either, imho once you've learned how to program beyond just a specific language picking up another one is not that challenging. And i agree learn c it's at the very least good for very speed important tasks, or interfacing directly with the os or writing ruby modules to do said interfacing. I mean try to beat this thing in speed \*need an x86 compiler\* .model small .stack 100h .386 Bufsize= 800 bsize=800 .data ten DD 10 FACT DD Bufsize DUP(0) INDEX dd 0 MULTI DD 0 LEN DD 1 .code main proc far     mov ax,@data     mov ds,ax     mov ah,62h     int 21h     mov es,bx     mov eax,0     mov ebx,081h     movzx ecx,BYTE PTR es:[80h] L4: mul ten     movzx edx,BYTE PTR es:[ebx]     and edx,000000fh     add eax,edx     inc ebx     loop L4 ;put code here         MOV ESI,OFFSET FACT          MOV [ESI],EAX          DEC EAX          MOV ECX,EAX          CMP ECX,0          JE PEAX Fac1:      MOV EBX,0      MOV ESI,OFFSET FACT      MOV INDEX,0 Fac2:      MOV EAX,[ESI] ;MOV FACT INTO EAX      MUL ECX ;MUL BY COUNT      ADD EAX,EBX ;ADD CONTENTS OF EBX TO ECX      JNC Fac3 ;NO CARRY =\> JUMP L3      INC EDX ;OTHERWISE INC EDX Fac3:      MOV EBX,EDX ;MOV CONTENT OF EDX TO EBX      MOV [ESI],EAX ;STORE MUL RESULT IN CURRENT ESI POS      INC INDEX      MOV EAX,INDEX      CMP LEN,EAX ;COMPARE LEN, INDEX      JNE Fac5 ;NOT EQUAL =\> JUMP L2      CMP EBX,0 ;COMPARE FOR CARRY AFTER ADD ECX,EBX      JZ Fac4 ;NO CARRY =\> JUMP L4      INC LEN ;INC LEN      ADD ESI,4      MOV [ESI],EBX      JMP Fac4 Fac5:      ADD ESI,4      JMP Fac2 Fac4:      LOOP Fac1 mov INDEX,0 mov ESI,OFFSET FACT MK1: mov eax,[esi] push eax inc INDEX add esi,4 mov ecx,INDEX cmp ecx, LEN jnz MK1 ;end code PEAX:     pop eax     mov ebx,eax     mov ecx,8     cmp INDEX,0     jz I1 L9: L3:         mov edx,0f0000000h     and edx,ebx     push ecx     mov cl,28         shr edx,cl     pop ecx     mov ah,02h     cmp dl,10     jb L1     add dl,37h         jmp L2 L1: or dl,30h L2: int 21h     shl ebx,1     shl ebx,1     shl ebx,1     shl ebx,1     loop L3     dec INDEX     cmp INDEX,0     jnz PEAX     mov ah,4ch     int 21h I1:     inc INDEX     jmp L9 main endp end main Kent Sibilev wrote: > **···** > > > I find this attitude is quite amazing. We all know that Ruby is not a > > best language in terms of performance. Even if we had Ruby 2.0 (YARV) > > delivered to us, Ruby's performance would still be a way behind those > > strong typed languges like ocaml or java. If you want to keep using > > Ruby, but sometimes you need a raw performance, you should learn C. > > It's not that bad, you know. If you always need a raw performance, > > then probably you are not using right tool for the job. > > > > just my 2 cents. > > > > On 7/14/06, Jamal Mazrui \ wrote: > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: list-bounce@example.com [mailto:list-bounce@example.com] On Behalf > > > Of Reggie Mr > > > Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 6:56 AM > > > > > > \> Write it C. > > > > > > I find this answer to be unsatisfactory. I do not know C and neither do > > > many others who like Ruby but want better performance. The knowledge > > > and syntax demands of programming in Ruby and C are worlds apart. It is > > > not much different than telling someone to go code in (modern) > > > Assembler! > > > > > > I think the more that Rubyists acknowledge and try to directly solve the > > > language's performance hindrance rather than rationalizing it away, the > > > better the prospects for the success of our beloved language. Of > > > course, better algorithms can produce better performance, but that > > > argument is also true for the languages with which Ruby compares > > > unfavorably in performance. Please do not claim that Ruby's adoption by > > > others is irrelevant: a good idea is worth spreading, and the more > > > users, the better library support and learning resources available to us > > > all. > > > Also, please do not tell me to rewrite Ruby, myself, if I care about > > > performance. As stated, I do not know C or have the interest and time > > > to devote to such an undertaking. I do promote Ruby to friends and > > > colleagues in ways that I can. We should be able to have a legitimate > > > desire for language improvements without being characterized as > > > ignoramuses, nay-sayers or lazy spectators. > > > > > > Regards, > > > Jamal ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy\_Henty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jeremy\_Henty](https://rubytalk.org/u/Jeremy_Henty)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 21:40 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-speed-up-ruby-and-make-it-as-fast-as-possible/28965/7 "2006-07-14T21:40:11Z")
class LedZep \< Rock::Default     ripoff(Blues)     include Tolkein::References::Tedious     acts\_as\_pretentious     has(slavering\_adulation\_of(:ignorant))   end   Flame::on! 🙂 Regards, Jeremy Henty > **···** > > On 2006-07-14, gregarican \ wrote: > > > ... being a programmer and not knowing any C is like a guitarist now > > knowing any Led Zeppelin 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gregarican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@gregarican](https://rubytalk.org/u/gregarican)\ **Post date:** [15 July 2006 01:25 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/how-to-speed-up-ruby-and-make-it-as-fast-as-possible/28965/8 "2006-07-15T01:25:04Z")
Ouch. That hurt :-/ Maybe I should've said a programmer not knowing C would be like a southern U.S. redneck (of which I am one) not knowing the song "Freebird." Jeremy Henty wrote: > **···** > > > On 2006-07-14, gregarican \ wrote: > > > > \> ... being a programmer and not knowing any C is like a guitarist now > > \> knowing any Led Zeppelin 🙂 > > > >   class LedZep \< Rock::Default > >     ripoff(Blues) > >     include Tolkein::References::Tedious > >     acts\_as\_pretentious > >     has(slavering\_adulation\_of(:ignorant)) > >   end > > > >   Flame::on! > > > > 🙂 > > > > Regards, > > > > Jeremy Henty