Value of microeffiency (was: Re: Optimal ...)

[Art Boyne]

Just to show that algorithms aren't everything, however, a case in point:

About 10 years ago, a project I was tangentially connected with needed to
do a data base sort on a floppy-based microprocessor system.  After
spending a lot of time choosing the algorithm, the guy doing the sort
chose one not very different from that running on the HP 3000 minicomputer.
After tuning the code, the micro/floppy system was able to outperform the
HP 3000 with a hard disk.

Long live optimization!

Art Boyne, ...!hplabs!hplvly!boyne