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> … a similar algorithm. Will someone else look at those similar algorithms and "see very different algorithms"? > … a result on that site that looks weird, I

• pron 8y ago
  > Will someone else look at those similar algorithms and "see very different algorithms"? I would think so. > Do regex libraries for different languages in-fact always implement the same algorithms? I don't know. But I do know that when something is presented as an answer, it's good to know what the question is. > suggests you are looking for something that tells us about "the relative speed" of those languages? I can think of a couple of ways the two can compare. One is the relative speeds (and other metrics) of programs of a similar nature, written simple idiomatic code. This gives a general "feel" for what kind of workloads different languages may be suitable for. Another is comparing the performance of the compiler/interpreter on some microbenchmark of the same algorithms, preferably written by people who coordinate, and preferably without mixing too many variables (e.g. measuring parallel scheduling separately and regex separately). Either one of these is of some interest. The benchmark game does neither. If there is some idea behind the site's comparisons, it's certainly keeping it a mystery.
  • igouy 8y ago
    > … relative speeds (and other metrics) of programs… So when you say "the relative speed of those languages" you actually mean the relative speed of programs? > … programs of a similar nature … preferably without mixing too many variables… Seems vague, no-longer rigorous. We can make mystery for ourselves — no one can force us to understand.
    • pron 8y ago
      > So when you say "the relative speed of those languages" you actually mean the relative speed of programs? No, I mean the relative speed of programs with some carefully chosen relation between them. For example, there is a big difference between "relative income of individuals" and "relative income of social groups," even though the latter could be reduced to the former. Whether a comparison of individuals is meaningful as a comparison of groups depends on how the individuals are chosen and aggregated. Clearly not every choice of individuals would make for a meaningful comparison of groups and not every choice of programs makes for a meaningful comparison of languages. The choices made by the game do not seem at all meaningful for the comparison of languages, but if there is some rhyme or reason to the choice, the website doesn't say what it is. > We can make mystery for ourselves — no one can force us to understand. True, but when a website chooses to present data in some aggregate way that seems to defy any familiar forms of aggregation and reasoning without so much as stating what the meaning of the presentation is, it is itself mysterious. I agree that it is possible that the comparisons are not worthless, but without any statement of a hypothesis, it is the most reasonable conclusion. I am sure that the authors of the website would agree that if they don't even attempt to say what the meaning of the comparisons is, even in their own minds, it is reasonable to assume it means nothing.