Zig VS Python benchmarks

Current benchmark data was generated on Sun Jun 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 1209ms 11ms 96.2MB 1140ms 50ms pypy 3.10.16
zig 1.zig 1718ms 14ms 49.0MB 1683ms 20ms zig 0.14.1
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 40.9MB 4973ms 13ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 40.7MB 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 97ms 3.0ms 68.8MB 70ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
zig 1.zig 150ms 2.1ms 7.0MB 140ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 1.py 478ms 6.6ms 11.9MB 453ms 13ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 737ms 8.4ms 12.8MB 723ms 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 251ms 2.2ms 83.2MB 213ms 23ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 358ms 2.4ms 12.7MB 347ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 2006ms 9.8ms 9.6MB 1993ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
zig 1.zig 2257ms 7.3ms 2.5MB 2230ms 10ms zig 0.14.1

Input: 100000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
python 1.py 100ms 0.5ms 63.4MB 73ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 139ms 54ms 12.4MB 100ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 349ms 2.4ms 8.8MB 330ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
zig 1.zig 384ms 5.4ms 1.9MB 370ms 0ms zig 0.14.1

fannkuch-redux

Input: 11

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 2-m.zig 638ms 2.2ms 1.4MB 2400ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 3-i.zig 1764ms 0.6ms 1.0MB 1753ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 1.zig 2716ms 5.8ms 1.0MB 2707ms 0ms zig 0.14.1

Input: 10

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 2-m.zig 60ms 0.3ms 1.4MB 200ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 3-i.zig 147ms 0.4ms 1.0MB 140ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 1.zig 229ms 0.8ms 1.0MB 220ms 0ms zig 0.14.1

fasta

Input: 2500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 87ms 1.4ms 1.0MB 80ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 1.py 1886ms 8.1ms 88.9MB 1843ms 30ms pypy 3.10.16
python 5-m.py 2274ms 5.2ms 65.6MB 3513ms 847ms pypy 3.10.16
python 5-m.py 2449ms 16ms 12.4MB 3560ms 1017ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 3024ms 34ms 8.1MB 3010ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 5-m.py 3346ms 15ms 13.8MB 4457ms 907ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 4648ms 12ms 8.9MB 4633ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

Input: 250000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 10ms 0.1ms 1.0MB 0ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 1.py 256ms 4.3ms 63.4MB 230ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 315ms 2.3ms 8.1MB 300ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 5-m.py 319ms 6.7ms 12.5MB 417ms 150ms pyston 3.8.12
python 5-m.py 398ms 1.9ms 13.9MB 473ms 137ms cpython 3.13.3
python 5-m.py 445ms 4.8ms 65.6MB 737ms 310ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 494ms 9.3ms 8.9MB 483ms 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 0.4ms 1.1MB 0ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 1.py 12ms 0.9ms 7.6MB 0ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 14ms 1.3ms 8.6MB 10ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 29ms 1.0ms 51.7MB 10ms 8ms 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 314ms 1.1ms 66.5MB 827ms 30ms zig 0.14.1
zig 1.zig 500ms 5.4ms 28.0MB 483ms 7ms zig 0.14.1
python 3-m.py 2576ms 18ms 136.5MB 8740ms 333ms pypy 3.10.16
python 3-m.py 3287ms 36ms 34.0MB 12567ms 110ms pyston 3.8.12
python 3.py timeout 0.0ms 35.3MB 97ms 13ms 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 63ms 0.5ms 54.3MB 123ms 33ms zig 0.14.1
zig 1.zig 66ms 1.0ms 15.5MB 50ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 3-m.py 399ms 1.9ms 75.8MB 1023ms 157ms pypy 3.10.16
python 3-m.py 410ms 3.4ms 14.2MB 1370ms 67ms pyston 3.8.12
python 3-m.py 663ms 5.8ms 15.2MB 2337ms 63ms 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 0.8ms 2.8MB 30ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 2.py 149ms 4.3ms 58.4MB 120ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 181ms 4.1ms 59.4MB 157ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 720ms 3.1ms 8.9MB 707ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 844ms 8.9ms 8.5MB 830ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 1166ms 4.3ms 9.5MB 1157ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 1359ms 24ms 9.1MB 1347ms 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 95ms 3.4ms 2.8MB 87ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 2.py 342ms 3.7ms 59.1MB 320ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 395ms 7.5ms 60.4MB 367ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2150ms 11ms 8.9MB 2140ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 2522ms 10ms 8.5MB 2513ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 3503ms 80ms 9.5MB 3490ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 4083ms 116ms 9.1MB 4070ms 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 15ms 0.4ms 1.3MB 10ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 2.py 107ms 3.5ms 58.2MB 83ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 123ms 2.2ms 58.8MB 100ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 352ms 1.5ms 8.5MB 340ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 384ms 4.5ms 8.1MB 373ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 548ms 3.1ms 9.3MB 537ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 667ms 2.4ms 8.8MB 653ms 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 0.8ms 4.1MB 240ms 0ms zig 0.14.1

Input: 1000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 12ms 0.2ms 1.1MB 10ms 0ms zig 0.14.1

merkletrees

Input: 17

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 856ms 8.4ms 41.0MB 830ms 10ms zig 0.14.1
python 1.py 2223ms 4.3ms 202.6MB 2110ms 100ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 94.0MB 4950ms 37ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 130.4MB 4933ms 53ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 15

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 178ms 3.3ms 11.0MB 167ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 1.py 380ms 0.7ms 104.8MB 320ms 43ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2901ms 23ms 37.3MB 2873ms 13ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 48.9MB 4943ms 43ms 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 1.0ms 1.0MB 190ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 2.zig 279ms 0.5ms 1.0MB 270ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 1.zig 315ms 0.7ms 1.1MB 310ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 2.py 1361ms 8.4ms 60.3MB 1333ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2648ms 10ms 57.1MB 2623ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 8.9MB 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 21ms 0.2ms 1.0MB 10ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 2.zig 30ms 0.1ms 1.0MB 20ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 1.zig 34ms 0.6ms 1.1MB 30ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 2.py 180ms 3.2ms 58.1MB 153ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 303ms 4.6ms 57.1MB 280ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 943ms 20ms 8.3MB 933ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 1311ms 6.8ms 8.3MB 1300ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 3029ms 49ms 8.9MB 3017ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 3194ms 81ms 8.9MB 3183ms 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 255ms 8.2ms 40.2MB 240ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 2.zig 328ms 2.8ms 6.0MB 320ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 1.py 2510ms 35ms 369.7MB 2443ms 53ms pypy 3.10.16
python 2.py 3001ms 11ms 632.9MB 2817ms 167ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 4815ms 106ms 320.4MB 4753ms 47ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 321.4MB 4960ms 23ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 633.8MB 4820ms 160ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 959.9MB 4717ms 273ms pypy 3.10.16

Input: 10

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 55ms 1.4ms 10.9MB 43ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
zig 2.zig 81ms 1.1ms 2.3MB 70ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 1.py 534ms 6.8ms 135.3MB 497ms 20ms pypy 3.10.16
python 2.py 727ms 14ms 164.2MB 683ms 27ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 1059ms 9.9ms 86.0MB 1033ms 10ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 1436ms 9.3ms 165.0MB 1393ms 27ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 1518ms 1.3ms 290.1MB 1430ms 73ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2777ms 67ms 87.0MB 2753ms 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 1909ms 6.7ms 9.0MB 1870ms 27ms pyston 3.8.12
python 4.py 1984ms 4.8ms 9.4MB 1933ms 37ms cpython 3.13.3
python 4.py 2200ms 2.7ms 89.4MB 2163ms 20ms pypy 3.10.16
zig 1.zig 2458ms 11ms 2.3MB 2430ms 17ms zig 0.14.1

Input: 4000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
python 4.py 452ms 2.1ms 8.6MB 440ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 4.py 475ms 3.4ms 9.1MB 463ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 4.py 549ms 4.9ms 83.9MB 513ms 20ms pypy 3.10.16
zig 1.zig 565ms 4.7ms 1.8MB 553ms 0ms zig 0.14.1

spectral-norm

Input: 8000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 3684ms 1.8ms 1.4MB 3670ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.8MB 40ms 10ms cpython 3.13.3
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 95.2MB 787ms 80ms pypy 3.10.16
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.2MB 37ms 10ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 4000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 927ms 2.1ms 1.3MB 920ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.6MB 50ms 10ms cpython 3.13.3
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 96.8MB 1343ms 173ms pypy 3.10.16
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 13.6MB 53ms 23ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 2000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
zig 1.zig 232ms 0.3ms 1.3MB 220ms 0ms zig 0.14.1
python 8-m.py 1961ms 11ms 93.0MB 6377ms 250ms pypy 3.10.16
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.3MB 90ms 17ms cpython 3.13.3
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 13.2MB 153ms 37ms pyston 3.8.12