I've got a project for which I might need to write a fast and very small server.
I was initially thinking, that if I do in fact need to do this, that I
would have to choose Python over Ruby for the server, because it would
be faster.
however -- is JRuby fast enough for something like this?
(because it would definitely be cool if it was.)
--
Giles Bowkett
http://www.gilesgoatboy.org
JRuby can be almost as fast as Java. So basically if you think Java
is fast enough for writing your server, then JRuby *should* be fast
enough.
Given the latest release of BSF (bean scripting framework), the
following languages can also be used on the JVM with little effort
- js
- ruby
- beanshell
- judoscript
- python
- nice
- pnuts
- Kawa (scheme on Java, doesn't use bsf)
+ more I can't remember now 
Bottom line, if Java would be fast enough, then most of the above
would be fast enough - the JRuby devs are probably lurking around here
and can give you a more informed delta for the difference in execution
of 'normal' Java vs JRuby
Thanks,
Kev
Giles Bowkett wrote:
I've got a project for which I might need to write a fast and very small server.
I was initially thinking, that if I do in fact need to do this, that I
would have to choose Python over Ruby for the server, because it would
be faster.however -- is JRuby fast enough for something like this?
(because it would definitely be cool if it was.)
JRuby executing straight-up Ruby code is still a few times slower than normal Ruby. We're working on a few options to speed it up, but there's a bit of work to do. However when a Java library or external resource (IO, etc) is involved, however, we usually are comparable or faster. For example, a deep iterative fib starts winning in JRuby around the 300000th fib because of Java's fast BigInteger class.
If you're doing mostly straight Java code and integrating it through a thin Ruby layer, it will likely be faster than writing the same service in pure Ruby...either on the C version or on JRuby.
--
Charles Oliver Nutter, JRuby Core Developer
headius@headius.com -- charles.nutter@sun.com
Blogging at headius.blogspot.com