I hear that Ada is slower than Fortran or C, is that true?
First, note that you are comparing compilers, not languages. There is no such thing as “fast” Ada code any more than there is “fast” C++ or Fortran code. Now, when comparing execution speeds on similar platforms, you must keep in mind the optimization levels, OS tuning, etc. while making the comparisons. The bottom line is that benchmarking, especially between two different languages, requires _very_ careful measurement. In general, such results should be viewed with caution. (A message from Bevin Brett of DEC) I have been asked to comment on the relative performance of algorithms coded in Ada and in Fortran. This question has come up repeatedly over the years, and deserves a complete answer, rather than a simplistic one. There are many factors which influence the size and execution speed of the running program, and they all play together to get a full answer. I shall then discuss an exact Ada v. Fortran comparison that Digital was involved in.
First, note that you are comparing compilers, not languages. There is no such thing as “fast” Ada code any more than there is “fast” C++ or Fortran code. Now, when comparing execution speeds on similar platforms, you must keep in mind the optimization levels, OS tuning, etc. while making the comparisons. The bottom line is that benchmarking, especially between two different languages, requires _very_ careful measurement. In general, such results should be viewed with caution. (A message from Bevin Brett of DEC) I have been asked to comment on the relative performance of algorithms coded in Ada and in Fortran. This question has come up repeatedly over the years, and deserves a complete answer, rather than a simplistic one. There are many factors which influence the size and execution speed of the running program, and they all play together to get a full answer. I shall then discuss an exact Ada v. Fortran comparison that Digital was involved in. First, a position statement: The variatio
