Performance of state machine with enum vs string?

[Hooovahh]

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@rbrown_acertaralabs wrote:

I'm pasting screenshots of the VI block diagrams rather than the source code, since images can be viewed immediately in the browser.   

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Is there a reason you didn't post it as a snippet which is also viewable in the browser and executable code?  Or post the pictures and a zip of the source?

[rbrown_acertaralabs]

Good idea to run it with case-insensitive match. To my surprise, this made a HUGE difference and drastically increased the time required for the string case:

• Typedef Enum = 0.853 sec per 10M iterations
• String (case insensitive match) = 84.3 sec per 10M iterations (!)

For the string case, one of the items is set as the Default case. I have posted the above results in the latest post to this topic (along with source code).

[rbrown_acertaralabs]

I intentionally did not randomly select the strings (nor the ints from the enum) during loop execution since random selection processing would add to the processing time for both the enum case and the string case. I wanted the timing to be strictly based on the case selection logic. Thus, the string array is pre-populated and the enum int array is pre-populated. However, both are pre-populated (before the timing begins) in a random order.

You are correct that the pre-populated enum int array could have duplicates -- I have fixed this and re-posted the new results in my latest post to this topic. It did not significantly change the results:

• Typedef Enum = 0.843 sec per 10M iterations
• String = 11.2 sec per 10M iterations
• String (case insensitive match) = 84.3 sec per 10M iterations (!)

[rbrown_acertaralabs]

Thanks for pointing out the snippet option.  I have now simply posted the entire source code in my latest post on this topic.

[rbrown_acertaralabs]

Latest results, screenshots, and source code attached.

Results:

• Typedef Enum = 0.843 sec per 10M iterations
• String = 11.2 sec per 10M iterations
• String (case insensitive match) = 84.3 sec per 10M iterations (!)

[mcduff]

Still no source code, but nice testing.

mcduff

[rbrown_acertaralabs]

see previous post for source code

[mcduff]

Try it with Disable Debugging, you may be surprised.

mcduff

[crossrulz]

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@mcduff wrote:

Try it with Disable Debugging, you may be surprised.

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The reason for the "surprise" is Constant Folding.  Nothing is coming out of these case structures, so they will likely be removed from the compiled code when debugging has been disabled.  If there was a value that came out of the case structure and wrote to a control, then we would have a more valid benchmark.

[mcduff]

@crossrulz Thanks for the explanation.