Re: compiler benchmark comparisons (was: naval systems)

[Wes Groleau <wesgroleau@despammed.com>]

It would not surprise me if the _average_ C compiler
is faster than the _average_ Ada compiler.  The Ada
compiler 

 - must generate machine code for constraint checks,
   elaboration checks, and stack checks
 - must check for initialization and finalization
   and the need for exception handlers.
 - will do a lot more type checking (if the program
   was not poorly designed)
 - may do a lot more optimization
 - and (to exaggerate for effect) the Ada compiler
   will pedantically examine your syntax and semantics
   with the proverbial fine-toothed comb and harass
   you unmercifully for the smallest pecadillo, while
   the C compiler will happily generate code for almost
   anything produce by leaning on the keyboard.

It would not surprise me, either, if the range of speeds
for C compilers in general and for Ada compilers in general
is far wider than the average difference.  This depends
more on the algorithms used for parsing, analyzing, code
generation, and optimizing than it does on the language.

-- 
Wes Groleau
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~wgroleau