Slow LC 9 Performance - Test Stack, Video, QA Report

[Tom Glod]

Hey Curry, I really appreciate you doing this video / post , hopefully it
will have the intended outcome.  I must say I am in production with 9 and
have been satisfied with the performance so far, but i can't go back to
compare.... so I guess I am happy to hear that there is a boost still to
come.

Thanks again for the efforts.

On Wed, Sep 5, 2018 at 12:46 AM Curry Kenworthy via use-livecode <
use-livecode at lists.runrev.com> wrote:

>
> LiveCode 9 (as of 9.0.1 RC 3) is significantly slower than LiveCode 6.7
> in a variety of tasks. This is a huge problem, it affects many of the
> projects I'm doing, and I'm sure others are in the same boat. Fellow
> boat members: please join my bug report/feature request below!
>
> The slowdown can be demonstrated both in test code and in real-world
> applications. The problem(s) may be in a specific area, but the actual
> effects on running code are widespread and fairly general, impacting
> multiple areas in my testing from math and loops to text, chunks, and
> arrays. I am posting some resources tonight to help draw attention and
> evaluate this problem, and requesting that LiveCode 9 be optimized to
> achieve at least speed parity with LiveCode 6 in these areas.
>
> (I am encouraged that some LC engine optimization impacting arrays is
> already underway by LC Mark W., but I want to emphasize and prove beyond
> doubt that several areas are affected and not only arrays. Therefore I
> hope this bug reports and test stack(s) will help to confirm whether the
> optimizations underway also solve the other areas, or whether those
> areas need further separate optimization.)
>
> Resources below.
>
> A) QA Bug or Feature Request:
>
> https://quality.livecode.com/show_bug.cgi?id=21561
>
> Report on this problem (which negatively impacts end users for existing
> features) with 2 recipes and downloads (test demo code and real world
> application). If your own app or code is affected by LC 9 performance,
> please add your CC and a comment.
>
> B) YouTube video: LC Version "Showdown"
>
> https://youtu.be/8uhOem46VXg
>
> Thorough demonstration and discussion of my tests and the results,
> pitting LiveCode 6.7 against the latest release of LiveCode 9 in several
> tasks that evaluate loops, math, text appends, array access, item
> chunks, and text replace.
>
> JavaScript code is also tested and provided to provide additional
> reference. (Thanks Richard G. for the suggestion! Very interesting
> results.)
>
> C) LC Version "Showdown" demo stack:
>
> http://curryk.com/showdown.zip
>
> The stack used in the video. See and test the code for yourself.
> Compares 6.7 and LC 9 (or others, you can use 7 or 8 too) for speed in
> loops, math, text appends, array access, item chunks, and text replace.
> (Also has effects used in video competition; this issue has been on my
> to-do list for some time, and I wanted a stack that looks good, makes
> comparisons quick and easy, and can serve as a useful platform for
> current and future tests.)
>
> Some buttons have right-click or shift-click alternatives, these are
> listed in tooltips. If desired, paste the JavaScript (which is
> automatically placed on the clipboard after each test) into js.do or
> another web page to compare the JS speed to LC.
>
> BTW, I'm only days away from a new WordLib release and have been doing a
> great deal of cross-version testing with it too. That, and Mark's array
> effort, were what prompted me to make extra time for this and get it
> posted today. WordReport is also due for an update, so is WordOut, and
> performance is something I take very seriously. Beyond that, I place the
> highest importance on all client app performance too.
>
> WordLib code uses a variety of the code areas mentioned here, some
> arrays but not relying on them heavily in the work, so I consider it a
> good balanced real-world example of the impact of LC 9 performance. It's
> pretty hard-hit for big files, because many or most operations in LC 9
> take 2x, 3x, or 4x the time compared to LC 6. (In fact I think it's
> somewhat challenging to find substantial code that is NOT hit by LC 9
> performance. I found one example in 9's favor to include in the showdown
> stack and video.)
>
> So again I wanted to emphasize it's not just arrays - that is proven
> here beyond any doubt in downloadable code and on video. I hope the
> array optimizations might help the other areas too, but if not, they
> need attention. Thank you! :)
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Curry Kenworthy
>
> Custom Software Development
> LiveCode Training and Consulting
> http://livecodeconsulting.com/
>
>
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