From: mgarriss <mgarriss@...>
Date: 2003-08-26T07:17:29+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby launching system apps?

Lothar Scholz wrote:

>>Avoid premature optimization. If the inefficiency is a problem,
>>    
>>
>
>I hear this a thousand times, but this makes it not more truth.
>You should only avoid optimization if it results in a more complex
>structure. This is only in a few cases the reality. Often an optimal
>datastructure doesn't take longer to debug or to write.
>

The whole quote was:
"Avoid premature optimization. If the inefficiency is a problem, 
implement in Ruby. If it is still a problem, extend Ruby with C. "

I think Mark was trying to say that using the unix sed command might be 
faster then a Ruby equivalent.  a) try reworking your algorithm, still 
too slow?, b) write it into a C extension (might even be able to use 
some of the sed source code here).

The benefit of this approach is that the end result is much more 
Ruby-like and platform independent.  Everyone can benefit from your work.

Michael