Programming for Performance

String manipulation and math operations are the heart of almost every programming task. And the core purpose of programming languages like Lasso is to perform these processes as quickly as possible. Thanks in part to its new LLVM core and native compilation, common speed tests show how Lasso 9 outperforms the competition.

How The Tests Were Performed


The numbers shown here represent the average result for each test over 100 iterations. Results are shown in seconds. The tests were performed on an Apple MacBook running MacOS X 10.5, comparing Lasso 9.0.0 against the version of each competing language that ships with the OS. Specifically:


• Python 2.5

• PHP 5.3.0

• Ruby 1.8.7

Substring Test


The substring test measures the performance of basic string manipulation by timing how long it takes to calculate every possible substring containing the first character from a string that is 130,000 characters in length. In this test, Lasso 9 demonstrates a nearly 40% improvement over the closest competitor.
 

Fractal Test


The fractal test measures the performance of floating point math operations by timing how long it takes to calculate the first 1,000 iterations of the Mandelbrot set. Again, Lasso 9 shows significant savings — a little over 20% — versus the closest competitor.
 

Fibonacci Test


The fibonacci test measures the performance of basic math operations by timing how long it takes to calculate the 40th number in the Fibonacci sequence. Here, Lasso 9 just barely edges out Python by about a half second, though both are about 15% faster than PHP and nearly 60% faster than Ruby.
 

Count Test


The count test measures the performance of looping structures by timing how long it takes to count from zero to one million. Here, somewhat surprisingly when compared to the other tests, PHP wins by a huge margin, though Lasso 9 still outperforms Python and Ruby.

Linux

Lasso on Linux is a reliable, scalable, and cost-effective platform. Lasso integrates seamlessly with open source technologies including Apache, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and more.

Linux Platform Requirements:

• 1 GHz or higher x86- or x86_64-compatible CPU

• 512 MB of RAM (more recommended)

• Standard installation of CentOS 5.8 or Ubuntu 11.04 or higher

• Apache 2 Web Server

• IBM's Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.4.1 for Red Hat Linux

Mac

Lasso feels right at home on the easy-to-use Mac platform. Lasso integrates with the built-in Apache web server in Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server. Lasso 9 runs on 64-bit Intel-based Macintoshes.

Mac OS X Platform Requirements:

• Intel-based Macintosh 

• 2 GB of RAM (recommended)

• Standard installation of Mac OS X (10.5/10.6/10.7) or Mac OS X Server (10.65/10.6/10.7). (Recommended on 10.7)

• Default Mac OS X installation of Apache 2 Web Server (included with Mac OS X)

• Java Virtual Machine compatible with Sun's JRE 1.4 (Java 2) (required for Java-based components)

Windows

Lasso 9 integrates with IIS or Apache 2 through a custom connector mod_lasso9 or custom ISAPI for IIS.  

Windows Platform Requirements:

• 2 GHz 64-bit

• 2 Gb of RAM (more recommended)

• Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows 7

• Apache 2.2 or Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 7 or higher. (IIS is included with the OS editions listed above and can be installed from the Windows installation CD)

• Java Virtual Machine compatible with Sun's JRE 1.4 (Java 2) (required for Java-based components)

• ImageMagick installed - see Lasso 9 Server Windows Installation Guide

Master (leased) License

A Master License for Lasso 9.1 Server also covers Lasso Professional 8.6, and gives you the ongoing right to use the software, and to receive updates for as long as your lease payments remain current.*

• Each Lasso Server Master License is tied to a single machine server/operating system, and a defined number of Instances.

• Lasso Server Master Licenses are bundled with instance packages for extra value of  5, 10 or 25 Instances.

• Each Lasso Server Master License is a single serial number, with an set instance count for the number of times it can occur concurrently.

• Each Lasso Server Master License can be used on either 8.6, 9.1 or higher, or a combination of both versions, on the same machine.

• Lasso Server Master Support costs are $150 - $180 per hour.

Cloud (leased) License

A Cloud License for Lasso 9.1 Server or higher gives you the ongoing right to use the software, and to receive updates for as long as your lease payments remain current.*

• A Lasso 9 Server Cloud License is tied to the Company of purchase for use on their suite of applications.

• A Lasso 9 Server Cloud License comes with 2 Instances and sdditional instances can be added, or removed, when required.

• Additional instances are billed as a separate monthly charge for each month the instance is present.

• Each Lasso 9 Server Cloud License must be able to connection to the provisioning server to receive active payment confirmation.

• Lasso 9 Server Cloud Support costs are $150 - $180 per hour.

* If your license payments expire your Lasso License and instances go into a "static administration mode". This means all services run via Lasso will continue to function as at the last paid date. Lasso cannot be edited or updated until the license payments have been made current. This protects your business and your customers, and ours! You can check the status of your license and payments at any time, and LassoSoft will communicate any change in status via email to the Primary Account Holder for that license.

Perpetual (owned) License

A Perpetual Lasso 9.1 Server License is the right to use the version as purchased indefinitely. Each Lasso 9 Server License can be installed on a single Instance of a server/operating system. The actual server and operating system may be changed and the same license applied after decommissioning the prior server/OS. No concurrent server or concurrent Operating Systems can use the same License

• Each server/operating system instance requires it's own Lasso 9.1 Server License.

• Each discreet instance of Lasso requires its own Lasso 9.1 Server license.

• Lasso 9.1 Server Licenses are bundled with instance packages for extra value of 1, 5, 10 or 25.

• Updates are available from time to time at an additional cost.

• Lasso Server Perpetual Support costs are $180 - $230 per hour.

Free Download (trial) License

The "developer mode" of Lasso 9 Server is fully functional, but limited to 5 IP's and 200 connections per minute—sufficient to develop and test on, but not viable for commercial use.