Optimization can be tricky

[hh]

The scenario Geoff described is roughly to get the
top ten (a handful) of 2000 records comparing a certain
numeric value of each.
To get that unknown value of each one has to go once through
all the records *and then sort* for that ranking.
(LiveCode is very fast with a simple numeric sort!)
Any other method of ranking while going through the data
will generously waste CPU time.

> Curry wrote:
> Put yourself in the computer's shoes, and also clarify what you need to 
> accomplish. You are asking it to sort the entire list of 2000 records, 
> but (if I understand) you only want a handful of those.
> 
> And it has already gone through all the records once before the sort. If 
> you asked a human to do that, it would be a risky interaction. There 
> might be raised voices when they present the neatly arranged file 
> cabinet with files in a special order, and you deliver the punch line 
> that you only need to pull a few. If you only need to pull 5 records, 
> most people don't want to go through all 2000 files - twice.
> 
> So generally, don't use a sort after doing a complete loop on a big text 
> list, use another method. Do unto your computer as you hope it will do 
> unto you when they run the world. :)