From: Kent Dahl <kentda@...>
Date: 2002-05-23T00:00:19+09:00
Subject: Re: FAQ for newcomers familiar with lower level language

Yohanes Santoso wrote:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Q. Why does an array of integer consumes at least thrice as many
> storage compared to C's array of integer?
> 
> A. Because the array does not store the integer directly, but rather
> stores a pointer to an integer (FixNum) object.

Fixnum is one of those types that is stored directly into the
reference/pointer/VALUE, alongside true, false and nil, isn't it? There
should be no pointer overhead, except for the bits of the VALUE that
isn't actually holding the numeric value, IIRC.

-- 
(\[ Kent Dahl ]/)_    _~_    __[ http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~kentda/ ]___/~
 ))\_student_/((  \__d L b__/  NTNU - graduate engineering - 4. year  )
( \__\_�|�_/__/ ) _)Industrial economics and technological management(
 \____/_�_\____/ (____engineering.discipline_=_Computer::Technology___)