[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> ... The question is of performance for Int sized things in
> Integer, so the fact that you call a good library isn't
> relevant; what's important is what you do when you don't
> _need_ to use GMP to get the answer.
It is relevant, because (unless my memory has faded badly...)
the GMP folks optimize (you know, um, hand-tuned assembly
language... :-) for the common case, which is Int-sized
things in Integers.
*If* it is true that the Integer-vs-Int speed penalty is 5x
(sounds plausible to me...), then I agree that (perhaps)
2x-3x of that can be clawed back, with good engineering
effort. But I'll be surprised if you're not still left with
a 2x-3x speed penalty. Total *system* effects on real
programs? -- not a clue :-)
Idle speculation, yes...
Will
