Zig VS Python 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
python 1.py 1163ms 3.7ms 96.4MB 1093ms 57ms pypy 3.10.16
zig 1.zig 1721ms 8.7ms 49.0MB 1690ms 17ms zig 0.14.0
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 41.0MB 4967ms 20ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 40.6MB 4747ms 240ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 15

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
python 1.py 94ms 1.4ms 68.9MB 67ms 20ms pypy 3.10.16
zig 1.zig 156ms 0.8ms 7.0MB 147ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 1.py 477ms 5.2ms 11.9MB 453ms 10ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 735ms 1.9ms 12.9MB 720ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

edigits

Input: 250001

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
python 1.py 254ms 1.8ms 83.3MB 213ms 27ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 358ms 0.5ms 12.7MB 343ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 2007ms 3.8ms 9.6MB 1993ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
zig 1.zig 2257ms 3.8ms 2.5MB 2227ms 17ms zig 0.14.0

Input: 100000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
python 1.py 101ms 2.1ms 63.4MB 77ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 110ms 2.3ms 11.6MB 97ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 347ms 0.6ms 8.8MB 340ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
zig 1.zig 382ms 3.2ms 1.9MB 363ms 3ms zig 0.14.0

fannkuch-redux

Input: 11

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 2-m.zig 632ms 6.8ms 1.4MB 2400ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 3-i.zig 1765ms 2.1ms 1.0MB 1757ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 1.zig 2717ms 3.5ms 1.0MB 2707ms 0ms zig 0.14.0

Input: 10

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 2-m.zig 60ms 0.7ms 1.4MB 200ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 3-i.zig 147ms 0.2ms 1.0MB 140ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 1.zig 228ms 1.2ms 1.0MB 220ms 0ms zig 0.14.0

fasta

Input: 2500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 88ms 1.7ms 1.0MB 80ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 1.py 1844ms 2.1ms 88.9MB 1803ms 27ms pypy 3.10.16
python 5-m.py 2282ms 26ms 65.6MB 3447ms 880ms pypy 3.10.16
python 5-m.py 2440ms 42ms 12.5MB 3553ms 983ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 3029ms 17ms 8.1MB 3013ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 5-m.py 3360ms 25ms 13.8MB 4480ms 893ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 4658ms 29ms 8.9MB 4647ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

Input: 250000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 11ms 0.8ms 1.0MB 0ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 1.py 248ms 3.6ms 63.3MB 217ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 5-m.py 310ms 2.9ms 12.5MB 413ms 133ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 316ms 5.2ms 8.1MB 303ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 5-m.py 405ms 7.8ms 13.9MB 507ms 127ms cpython 3.13.3
python 5-m.py 437ms 3.3ms 65.4MB 743ms 283ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 475ms 3.8ms 8.8MB 463ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

helloworld

Input: QwQ

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 1.1ms 0.2ms 1.1MB 0ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 1.py 12ms 0.6ms 7.6MB 0ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 14ms 1.0ms 8.6MB 10ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 29ms 1.3ms 51.6MB 10ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16

knucleotide

Input: 2500000_in

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1-m.zig 315ms 1.9ms 67.1MB 830ms 30ms zig 0.14.0
zig 1.zig 504ms 5.3ms 28.1MB 477ms 10ms zig 0.14.0
python 3-m.py 2338ms 1.4ms 136.4MB 7957ms 330ms pypy 3.10.16
python 3-m.py 3049ms 13ms 34.1MB 11583ms 117ms pyston 3.8.12
python 3.py timeout 0.0ms 35.9MB 90ms 20ms cpython 3.13.3

Input: 250000_in

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1-m.zig 64ms 1.1ms 54.4MB 133ms 27ms zig 0.14.0
zig 1.zig 66ms 1.8ms 15.4MB 50ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 3-m.py 378ms 4.0ms 75.7MB 953ms 153ms pypy 3.10.16
python 3-m.py 396ms 3.0ms 14.3MB 1300ms 67ms pyston 3.8.12
python 3-m.py 666ms 1.7ms 15.2MB 2340ms 70ms cpython 3.13.3

lru

Input: 1000 1000000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 35ms 2.4ms 2.8MB 27ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 2.py 146ms 2.0ms 58.3MB 120ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 182ms 1.5ms 59.4MB 157ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 719ms 4.1ms 8.9MB 707ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 846ms 13ms 8.5MB 833ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 1151ms 14ms 9.5MB 1137ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 1319ms 13ms 9.1MB 1307ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

Input: 1000 3000000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 91ms 1.2ms 2.8MB 80ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 2.py 338ms 2.2ms 59.3MB 313ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 385ms 11ms 60.3MB 360ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2132ms 15ms 8.9MB 2120ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 2534ms 37ms 8.5MB 2523ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 3411ms 66ms 9.5MB 3397ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 3945ms 23ms 9.1MB 3933ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

Input: 100 500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 16ms 1.2ms 1.3MB 10ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 2.py 105ms 0.6ms 58.1MB 80ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 121ms 3.1ms 58.8MB 97ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 345ms 3.5ms 8.5MB 330ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 387ms 4.3ms 8.1MB 373ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 543ms 3.8ms 9.3MB 533ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 634ms 7.0ms 8.8MB 620ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

mandelbrot

Input: 5000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 247ms 0.5ms 4.1MB 240ms 0ms zig 0.14.0

Input: 1000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 12ms 0.0ms 1.1MB 10ms 0ms zig 0.14.0

merkletrees

Input: 17

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 858ms 3.7ms 41.0MB 830ms 13ms zig 0.14.0
python 1.py 2205ms 15ms 202.6MB 2087ms 107ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 93.9MB 4953ms 37ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 130.3MB 4937ms 50ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 15

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 180ms 6.0ms 11.0MB 163ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 1.py 374ms 1.8ms 105.3MB 317ms 40ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2897ms 36ms 37.3MB 2873ms 10ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 48.9MB 4940ms 50ms pyston 3.8.12

nbody

Input: 5000000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 3.zig 198ms 1.2ms 1.0MB 190ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 2.zig 279ms 0.4ms 1.0MB 270ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 1.zig 315ms 1.0ms 1.1MB 307ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 2.py 1359ms 3.9ms 58.1MB 1333ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2652ms 15ms 57.1MB 2627ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 8.8MB 4990ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 8.9MB 4990ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 8.3MB 4990ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 8.1MB 4990ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 3.zig 22ms 0.3ms 1.1MB 10ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 2.zig 30ms 0.1ms 1.0MB 20ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 1.zig 34ms 0.6ms 1.1MB 23ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 2.py 180ms 3.6ms 57.9MB 153ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 303ms 3.1ms 57.2MB 280ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 926ms 7.5ms 8.3MB 910ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 1300ms 5.2ms 8.3MB 1293ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 2952ms 2.0ms 8.9MB 2940ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 3262ms 188ms 8.9MB 3250ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

nsieve

Input: 12

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 271ms 2.6ms 40.2MB 250ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 2.zig 328ms 2.4ms 6.0MB 320ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 1.py 2568ms 13ms 369.6MB 2497ms 60ms pypy 3.10.16
python 2.py 3071ms 131ms 633.0MB 2887ms 167ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 4763ms 47ms 320.4MB 4703ms 50ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 321.3MB 4960ms 20ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 633.7MB 4823ms 163ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 959.9MB 4720ms 267ms pypy 3.10.16

Input: 10

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 54ms 4.4ms 10.9MB 47ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
zig 2.zig 81ms 0.9ms 2.3MB 70ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 1.py 533ms 4.7ms 135.3MB 493ms 23ms pypy 3.10.16
python 2.py 719ms 1.6ms 164.2MB 673ms 30ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 1046ms 3.4ms 86.1MB 1020ms 10ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 1404ms 6.2ms 165.0MB 1367ms 27ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 1537ms 17ms 290.2MB 1447ms 77ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2673ms 5.0ms 86.9MB 2650ms 10ms cpython 3.13.3

pidigits

Input: 8000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
python 4.py 1915ms 12ms 8.9MB 1873ms 27ms pyston 3.8.12
python 4.py 1986ms 7.7ms 9.4MB 1933ms 40ms cpython 3.13.3
python 4.py 2182ms 4.7ms 89.6MB 2143ms 27ms pypy 3.10.16
zig 1.zig 2466ms 3.3ms 2.2MB 2437ms 13ms zig 0.14.0

Input: 4000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
python 4.py 451ms 2.1ms 8.6MB 440ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 4.py 470ms 1.0ms 9.1MB 460ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 4.py 550ms 2.6ms 83.9MB 520ms 20ms pypy 3.10.16
zig 1.zig 567ms 2.8ms 1.8MB 553ms 0ms zig 0.14.0

spectral-norm

Input: 8000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 3689ms 4.3ms 1.4MB 3683ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.9MB 40ms 7ms cpython 3.13.3
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 95.8MB 763ms 77ms pypy 3.10.16
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.1MB 30ms 10ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 4000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 923ms 3.3ms 1.3MB 913ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.5MB 43ms 10ms cpython 3.13.3
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 96.4MB 1267ms 177ms pypy 3.10.16
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 13.7MB 53ms 17ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 2000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 232ms 0.1ms 1.3MB 220ms 0ms zig 0.14.0
python 8-m.py 1935ms 16ms 93.6MB 6317ms 250ms pypy 3.10.16
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.3MB 83ms 17ms cpython 3.13.3
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 13.1MB 137ms 30ms pyston 3.8.12