Benchmarks

Volume Number: 1

Issue Number: 1

Column Tag: Benchmarks, Compatability

Benchmarks, Compatability

Joerg Langowski has compiled some interesting benchmarks on the Mac using the

various program- ming languages discussed in this issue of MacTech. The results show

that the Mac is indeed a powerful computing tool when combined with some decent

software development tools that are now starting to hit the market. The following times

are based on the Sieve of Eratosthenes prime number generator published in Byte

magazine as a standard benchmark, and reported in the November issue of Mac- World.

VAX 11/780

3 seconds

Consulair “C”

10 seconds

21 seconds

Modula 2

90 seconds

MS BASIC 1.0

1,010 seconds

It is obvious that C allows the maximum performance from the Mac, yet still

provides a high level interface to the Mac toolbox. It is also clear that MS/Basic is not

a true indicator of Mac’s abilities. We invite other timing results from our readers.

Hot Air: “Compatability”

Integrated software came about as a means of getting incompatable software to

speak to each other. Apple introduced the idea of standard data formats and a tool

(clipboard) for moving data from one program to another. How well has Apple imp-

lemented this concept?

Unformatted text files can be clipped to almost any program. But formatted text

from MacWrite cannot be moved to Paint or Draw without losing their fonts and word

wrapping. Paint files cannot be moved into Draw at all. Paint files can be clipped to

MacWrite, but with restrictions on text placement in and around the Paint image.

While Apple has suggested a powerful concept in compatable data formats, they have

yet to follow through with their own product line. The fact that these programs are

contracted out may have something to do with this.