# Mac OS X Leopard - Ruby is 3X faster with disable-pthreads **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [October 26, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mac-os-x-leopard-ruby-is-3x-faster-with-disable-pthreads/151814 "2008-10-26T05:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ericgoodwin](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@ericgoodwin](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ericgoodwin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mac-os-x-leopard-ruby-is-3x-faster-with-disable-pthreads/151814/1 "2008-10-26T05:59:47Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![ericgoodwin](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@ericgoodwin](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ericgoodwin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mac-os-x-leopard-ruby-is-3x-faster-with-disable-pthreads/151814/2 "2008-10-26T22:48:34Z")
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/](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. removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![ericgoodwin](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@ericgoodwin](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ericgoodwin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mac-os-x-leopard-ruby-is-3x-faster-with-disable-pthreads/151814/3 "2008-10-26T23:34:16Z")
Quoting Ezra Z. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid): > > ## \*\* 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/](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.