Programming Language and compiler
Benchmarks

Nim VS C benchmarks

Current benchmark data was generated on Thu May 01 2025, full log can be found HERE

CONTRIBUTIONS are WELCOME!

[x86_64][4 cores] AMD EPYC 7763 64-Core Processor (Model 1)

* -m in a file name stands for multi-threading or multi-processing

* -i in a file name stands for direct intrinsics usage. (Usage of simd intrinsics via libraries is not counted)

* -ffi in a file name stands for non-stdlib FFI usage

* (You may find time < time(user) + time(sys) for some non-parallelized programs, the overhead is from GC or JIT compiler, which are allowed to take advantage of multi-cores as that's more close to real-world scenarios.)

binarytrees

Input: 18

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 775ms 6.2ms 33.9MB 757ms 10ms nim 2.2.4
nim 2.nim 953ms 12ms 35.2MB 933ms 7ms nim/clang 2.2.4

Input: 15

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 76ms 2.3ms 5.5MB 67ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 2.nim 92ms 3.6ms 5.8MB 83ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4

coro-prime-sieve

Input: 4000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 554.2MB 2543ms 1993ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 552.6MB 2487ms 2053ms nim/clang 2.2.4

Input: 1000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 4338ms 12ms 519.4MB 2163ms 1750ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 4380ms 6.7ms 518.6MB 2120ms 1837ms nim/clang 2.2.4

fasta

Input: 2500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 187ms 0.8ms 1.5MB 180ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 2.nim 243ms 2.3ms 1.8MB 233ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 550ms 1.7ms 1.8MB 440ms 100ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 574ms 3.5ms 1.5MB 467ms 97ms nim 2.2.4

Input: 250000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 20ms 0.1ms 1.5MB 10ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 2.nim 26ms 0.7ms 1.8MB 20ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 58ms 0.4ms 1.8MB 40ms 3ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 60ms 0.9ms 1.5MB 43ms 0ms nim 2.2.4

helloworld

Input: QwQ

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
c 1.c 1.0ms 0.0ms 1.3MB 0ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
nim 1.nim 1.0ms 0.0ms 1.5MB 0ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 1.1ms 0.0ms 1.9MB 0ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
c 1.c 1.2ms 0.0ms 2.1MB 0ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 1.c 1.3ms 0.1ms 2.1MB 0ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1

lru

Input: 1000 1000000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 112ms 3.7ms 1.6MB 103ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 2.nim 113ms 0.4ms 1.4MB 103ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 1.3MB 4990ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 1.5MB 4990ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4

Input: 1000 3000000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 325ms 2.2ms 1.6MB 320ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 2.nim 337ms 3.0ms 1.4MB 327ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 1.3MB 4990ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 1.5MB 4990ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4

Input: 100 500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 49ms 0.5ms 1.5MB 40ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 2.nim 51ms 0.7ms 1.3MB 40ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 488ms 11ms 1.5MB 480ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 493ms 16ms 1.3MB 483ms 0ms nim 2.2.4

mandelbrot

Input: 5000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
c 1-mffi.c 223ms 8.7ms 7.6MB 827ms 10ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 1-mffi.c 264ms 0.7ms 6.6MB 813ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 1-ffi.c 329ms 0.7ms 6.0MB 320ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
c 1-mffi.c 331ms 2.6ms 6.0MB 323ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
nim 1.nim 387ms 1.0ms 4.8MB 380ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
c 1-ffi.c 452ms 1.2ms 6.5MB 440ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 1-ffi.c 543ms 1.9ms 6.8MB 533ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
nim 1.nim 579ms 4.0ms 4.5MB 570ms 0ms nim 2.2.4

Input: 1000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
c 1-mffi.c 15ms 0.3ms 4.5MB 30ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 1-ffi.c 16ms 0.0ms 3.0MB 10ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
c 1-mffi.c 16ms 0.1ms 3.0MB 10ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
c 1-mffi.c 16ms 0.7ms 3.5MB 43ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
nim 1.nim 19ms 0.5ms 1.9MB 10ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
c 1-ffi.c 22ms 1.1ms 3.6MB 10ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 1-ffi.c 25ms 0.4ms 3.8MB 20ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
nim 1.nim 26ms 0.6ms 1.6MB 20ms 0ms nim 2.2.4

merkletrees

Input: 17

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 545ms 3.9ms 34.9MB 523ms 7ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 627ms 17ms 35.2MB 610ms 3ms nim/clang 2.2.4

Input: 15

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 117ms 2.0ms 9.6MB 107ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 133ms 1.1ms 9.9MB 120ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4

nbody

Input: 5000000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
c 8-i.c 267ms 0.0ms 1.5MB 260ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
c 8-i.c 302ms 1.1ms 2.1MB 290ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 2.c 309ms 1.2ms 2.3MB 300ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 5.c 313ms 1.1ms 2.3MB 300ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 2.c 315ms 3.3ms 1.5MB 307ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
c 5.c 315ms 1.3ms 2.1MB 310ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 5.c 316ms 1.7ms 1.5MB 307ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
c 2.c 318ms 1.3ms 2.1MB 310ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
nim 2.nim 320ms 1.7ms 1.8MB 310ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
c 8-i.c 337ms 0.2ms 2.3MB 330ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
nim 2.nim 344ms 1.7ms 2.0MB 337ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4

Input: 500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
c 8-i.c 29ms 0.3ms 1.5MB 20ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
c 8-i.c 33ms 0.1ms 2.1MB 23ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 2.c 33ms 0.5ms 1.5MB 27ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
c 2.c 33ms 0.5ms 2.3MB 27ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 5.c 33ms 0.2ms 2.3MB 27ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 5.c 34ms 0.2ms 2.1MB 30ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 5.c 35ms 0.4ms 1.5MB 30ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
c 2.c 35ms 1.6ms 2.1MB 30ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
nim 2.nim 35ms 0.5ms 1.8MB 30ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
c 8-i.c 36ms 0.1ms 2.3MB 30ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
nim 2.nim 37ms 0.5ms 2.0MB 30ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4

nsieve

Input: 12

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 269ms 7.3ms 41.5MB 260ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
c 1.c 279ms 14ms 40.8MB 263ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 1.c 281ms 12ms 41.1MB 263ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 1.c 297ms 11ms 40.3MB 280ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
nim 1.nim 318ms 3.3ms 41.8MB 307ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4

Input: 10

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
c 1.c 52ms 3.5ms 11.6MB 43ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
nim 1.nim 54ms 4.3ms 11.5MB 47ms 0ms nim 2.2.4
c 1.c 55ms 4.3ms 11.5MB 47ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 1.c 59ms 1.5ms 11.0MB 50ms 0ms zigcc 0.14.0
nim 1.nim 65ms 1.4ms 11.8MB 57ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4

regex-redux

Input: 2500000_in

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 1644ms 4.7ms 152.4MB 1610ms 20ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 1672ms 7.2ms 152.1MB 1640ms 20ms nim 2.2.4

Input: 250000_in

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 173ms 1.3ms 17.6MB 160ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 177ms 3.1ms 17.4MB 163ms 0ms nim 2.2.4

spectral-norm

Input: 8000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
c 3-m.c 739ms 2.6ms 2.0MB 2903ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 6-im.c 958ms 3.1ms 2.0MB 3763ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 4-m.c 997ms 13ms 2.0MB 3907ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 6-im.c 1028ms 44ms 3.3MB 4000ms 10ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 4-m.c 1124ms 4.6ms 3.3MB 4410ms 3ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 5-im.c 1146ms 2.8ms 2.0MB 4513ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 5-im.c 1331ms 1.7ms 3.1MB 5233ms 10ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 3-m.c 1851ms 34ms 3.3MB 7240ms 17ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
nim 1.nim 3589ms 1.3ms 1.6MB 3580ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 3603ms 8.0ms 1.4MB 3597ms 0ms nim 2.2.4

Input: 4000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
c 3-m.c 195ms 2.1ms 2.0MB 740ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 6-im.c 246ms 0.9ms 2.0MB 940ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 4-m.c 260ms 2.9ms 2.0MB 993ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 6-im.c 261ms 6.0ms 3.3MB 993ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 4-m.c 288ms 1.3ms 3.1MB 1107ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 5-im.c 298ms 5.3ms 2.0MB 1147ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 5-im.c 347ms 7.1ms 3.3MB 1323ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 3-m.c 486ms 22ms 3.1MB 1843ms 7ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
nim 1.nim 899ms 0.2ms 1.5MB 890ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 904ms 4.4ms 1.3MB 893ms 0ms nim 2.2.4

Input: 2000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
c 3-m.c 56ms 0.5ms 2.0MB 200ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 6-im.c 70ms 0.6ms 3.3MB 243ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 4-m.c 72ms 0.5ms 2.0MB 260ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 6-im.c 75ms 11ms 2.0MB 257ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 4-m.c 79ms 3.5ms 3.3MB 280ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 5-im.c 81ms 1.2ms 2.0MB 293ms 0ms gcc 15.1.0
c 5-im.c 91ms 0.1ms 3.1MB 330ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
c 3-m.c 124ms 3.0ms 3.3MB 450ms 0ms clang 14.0.0-1ubuntu1.1
nim 1.nim 227ms 0.6ms 1.5MB 220ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.4
nim 1.nim 228ms 1.2ms 1.3MB 220ms 0ms nim 2.2.4