interpreter-binary-perf

Brief performance testing of binary/decimal conversion functions in different scripting interpreters.

Test conditions

Performed under bit noisy conditions (web browser + media player open, etc).

Each test was run 3x, reporting the best time

All tests are single-threaded.

cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep bogo | head -1
bogomips        : 6618.86

All packages are from Debian Buster except where indicated.

• Perl v5.28.1
• Python2 v2.7.16
• Python3 v3.7.3
• PHP v7.3.14-1
• Node.js v10.20.1 (nodesource.com distribution)
• Ruby v2.5.5p157

Raw loop performance

Language	Time(real)	Command
Perl5	0m0.308s	time perl -e 'for($i = 0; $i < 10000000; ++$i) {}'
Python2	0m0.502s	time python2 -c 'for i in range(10000000): pass'
Python3	0m0.302s	time python3 -c 'for i in range(10000000): pass'
PHP	0m0.249s	time php -r 'for($i = 0; $i < 10000000; ++$i);'
Node.js ⭐	0m0.075s	time node -e 'for(let i = 0; i < 10000000; ++i);'
Ruby	0m0.409s	time ruby -e 'for i in 0..10000000 ; end'

Binary to decimal

• Use 511 as sample value to bypass 8-bit interning

Language	Time(real)	Command
Perl5	0m4.745s	time perl -e 'for($i = 0; $i < 10000000; ++$i) { oct("0b" + "111111111") }'
Python2	0m1.794s	time python2 -c 'for i in range(10000000): int("111111111", 2)'
Python3	0m1.953s	time python3 -c 'for i in range(10000000): int("111111111", 2)'
PHP	0m13.146s	time php -r 'for($i = 0; $i < 10000000; ++$i) bindec("111111111");'
Node.js ⭐	0m0.709s	time node -e 'for(let i = 0; i < 10000000; ++i) { parseInt("111111111", 2) }'
Ruby	0m1.313s	time ruby -e 'for i in 0..10000000 ; "111111111".to_i(2) ; end'

Decimal to binary

• Use 257 as sample value to bypass small-integer interning

Language	Time(real)	Command
Perl5 ⭐	0m0.367s	time perl -e 'for($i = 0; $i < 10000000; ++$i) { sprintf("%b", 257) }'
Python2	0m1.519s	time python2 -c 'for i in range(10000000): bin(257)[2:]'
Python2 (alt)	0m2.697s	time python2 -c 'for i in range(10000000): "{:b}".format(257)'
Python3	0m1.988s	time python3 -c 'for i in range(10000000): bin(257)[2:]'
Python3 (alt)	0m2.196s	time python3 -c 'for i in range(10000000): "{:b}".format(257)'
PHP	0m14.038s	time php -r 'for($i = 0; $i < 10000000; ++$i) decbin(257);'
Node.js	0m1.594s	time node -e 'for(let i = 0; i < 10000000; ++i) { (257).toString(2) }'
Ruby	0m1.706s	time ruby -e 'for i in 0..10000000 ; 257.to_s(2) ; end'