[REBOL] Re: RFC: Cross-language benchmark proposal
From: edanaii:cox at: 9-Nov-2002 7:50
Carl Read wrote:
>On 09-Nov-02, Ed Dana wrote:
>
>>The algorithm for any program should be specified in simple English.
>>It should be void of any technical references nor should it suggest
>>any technical solutions.
>>
>>
>>For example, the algorithm for the RandomCopy procedure I mentioned
>>earlier is:
>>* Specify Source Directory
>>* Specify Target Directory or File
>>
>>
>>1 Get all the files in the Source Directory.
>>2 Choose one file randomly.
>>3 Copy it to the Target File or Directory.
>>
>>
>>Stating it this way keeps it at a "logical" level and should avoid
>>any "subjective" issues as the only constraints here are the
>>resources being utilized. I.e. Files and directories.
>>
>>
>
>Okay. And I'd write that something like this, (though with a filled
>header of course), ...
>
>rebol []
>dir: %test-dir/
>file: %test-dir/random-file
>write/binary file read/binary join dir random/only read dir
>
>Would Joel approve though? (;
>
Looks like your solution is close to my solution, with only some minor
differences.
======================================================================
REBOL [
Title: "Random Copy"
File: %RandomCopy.r
Date: 28-Oct-2002
Purpose: {
Copies a file from the source directory specified to the
target directory or file.
}
]
RandomCopy: Func [
{Copies one randomly chosen file owned by the source directory to the
target file or directory.
}
;* Specify Source Directory
SourceFile [File!] "The directory containing the files to be copied."
;* Specify Target Directory or File
TargetFile [File!] "The Target directory/file to be copied to."
] [
;1 Get all the files in the Source Directory.
Files: read SourceFile
;2 Choose one file randomly.
Random/Seed Now
;3 Copy it to the Target File or Directory.
Write TargetFile Read to-file join SourceFile Pick Files Random
Length? Files
]
======================================================================
First, I chose to create mine as a function, for repeatable purposes. I
actually use it. :) It chooses my sig file, for example.
Second, as part of my algorithm, I had specified a Source and Target
directory. I met that specification, in part by creating it as a function.
Third, I chose to use Random/Seed to insure true randomness. At least,
it was my perception that it would be truly random. :) So, in this
context, is it any more or less random than your solution?
Also, you chose to Write the file as a binary file. Is this safer? Or
just focused on binary? Just wondering...
I think that this can be graded for "effort" by measuring the number of
steps in the algorithm (5) by the number of actions taken in the
solution (11). Which means it scores about 45% for completeness (5/11),
which is, actually, very good. My java solution scores much worse: 28
actions or 18%.
Admittedly, my Java solution could probably be reduced in the number of
actions taken to meet the algorithm, but what I find interesting about
this situation is that I've known Java longer than I've known REBOL
(1997 vs. 2001) and I wrote my REBOL solution in 1/4 the time and using
considerably less code. :)
Some thoughts:
I'm using the concept of "Actions" to measure the solution against the
algorithm. I was originally thinking of using "Lines of code" to measure
the effort of the solution. I switched to actions because, in Java for
example, you can stack as many commands as you want on a single line.
As I suggested earlier, I personally think such a web site should be
more than just a competition site. I think it should also be a "how to"
site, which is why I chose to make my solution utilitarian. You need a
means to drive people to the site and a reason for them to stay. Once
they find it useful, they'll take a closer look at the other solutions
available and see for themselves who is better and who isn't.
--
Sincerely, | Control is an illusion, you infantile egomaniac.
Ed Dana | Nobody knows what's gonna happen next: not on a
Software Developer | freeway, not in an airplane, not inside our own
1Ghz Athlon Amiga | bodies and certainly not on a racetrack with 40
| other infantile egomaniacs.
| -- Days of Thunder
