Mac OS X Leopard - Ruby is 3X faster with disable-pthreads

Ruby
1

I have a fast mac pro computer.

I ran simple benchmark, and my computer took 13 seconds when
equal/slower macs around my office were only taking 2.5 seconds to
complete the exact same task.

I also noticed that my ruby was generally less zippier.

So I configure ruby to run WITHOUT pthread support, and now its at the
same speed as the other computers.

I dont really know how this could potentially screw things up, but Im
definitely liking the speed increase. The compiler told me the
following:

**
** PTHREAD SUPPORT MODE ERROR:
**
** Ruby is not compiled with --enable-pthread, but your Tcl/Tk
** library seems to be compiled with pthread support. This
** combination may cause frequent hang or segmentation fault
** errors when Ruby/Tk is working. We recommend that you NEVER
** create the library with such a combination of pthread support.
**
** Please recompile Ruby with the “–enable-pthread” configure option
** or recompile Tcl/Tk with the “–disable-threads” configure option.
**

What Im curious about is, why the big speed difference? Its a night and
day difference in performance. Is there any kind of other performance
issues that I have to watch out for now, like more frequent crashing or
something?

2

On Oct 25, 2008, at 9:59 PM, Aryk G. wrote:

** errors when Ruby/Tk is working. We recommend that you NEVER
day difference in performance. Is there any kind of other performance
issues that I have to watch out for now, like more frequent crashing
or
something?

Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

As long as you aren’t using tk at all then you have no issue to watch
out for. I compile all of my ruby’s with pthreads disabled including
all engine yard slices.

Cheers-

Ezra Z.
[email protected]

3

Quoting Ezra Z. [email protected]:

** Ruby is not compiled with --enable-pthread, but your Tcl/Tk
day difference in performance. Is there any kind of other performance
issues that I have to watch out for now, like more frequent crashing or
something?

Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

As long as you aren’t using tk at all then you have no issue to watch
out for. I compile all of my ruby’s with pthreads disabled including
all engine yard slices.

You can also recompile “tcl” and “tk” with “pthreads” disabled. I
ended up having to run all three of them with pthreads for some other
dependency, although I don’t remember which one. And I think Ruby 1.9
requires pthreads.