Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!lethe!yunexus!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!gatech!udel!oscar.ccm.udel.edu!johnston From: johnston@oscar.ccm.udel.edu Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps Subject: Compact Pro 1.30 vs. StuffIt Deluxe 2.0.1 (performance) Message-ID: <44168@nigel.ee.udel.edu> Date: 9 Feb 91 04:20:18 GMT Sender: usenet@ee.udel.edu Lines: 84 Nntp-Posting-Host: minnie.me.udel.edu About six weeks ago I started a mini-flamewar with a posting about how the StuffIt Deluxe 1.0 installer ate my hard disk. In the course of the "Installer from Hell" thread I took pains to point out that Aladdin customer service was quite helpful; several others mentioned some of Deluxe features such as scripting, virus checking, and "hooks" for applications like Microphone, White Knight, HyperCard, QuickKeys, and the Finder. Someone also posted a performance comparison pitting Compactor 1.2.1 vs. StuffIt Deluxe 1.0.1. Both applications have recently been upgraded; the performance of Compact Pro and StuffIt Deluxe 2.0.1 are compared below. Experimental: Test Documents: HyperCard 1.2.5 application, 384 K Microsoft Word 4.0 file (normal save), 127 K Microsoft Excel 2.2a file, 117 K These documents were placed in a new folder named "Test Folder" of an internal SCSI HD. All archives were created on an internal SCSI drive. All files were extracted to an empty high density floppy. Hardware: SE/30, 5 meg ram, 40 meg internal SCSI drive (4 meg free on recently defragmented HD), FDHD floppy drive System: System 6.0.5, Finder 6.1.5, Multifinder 6.1b9 Both programs offer options that affect archiving performance. StuffIt Deluxe was run in its "Background Tasks Enabled" mode as Compact Pro is a fully Multifinder-friendly application. Extraction of net.standard StuffIt 1.5.1 archives was done for each of StuffIt's performance-affecting options. Results: StuffIt Deluxe 2.0.1 -- background tasks enabled, check known viri Create Extract HC1.2.5 MSWDdoc XL22doc overall time, (seconds) efficiency, (percent saved) ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Faster 16 67 15 37 29 22 Fast (1.5.1) 40 439 29 67 58 42 Optimal 100 451 31 73 63 46 Best Guess 197 458 44 76 65 54 Better 280 458 44 76 65 54 Compact Pro 1.30 standard 69 55 45 78 68 56 new option 93 55 45 78 68 56 standard == (archive not validated after saving -- as in 1.21) new option == (validate archive after saving -- optional in 1.30) Time (seconds) to extract StuffIt 1.5.1 archive -- various options ------------------------------------------------------------------ 439 -- background tasks enabled, check known viri and anomalies 439 -- background tasks enabled, check for known viri 428 -- background tasks enabled, no virus checking 303 -- background not enabled, check known viri and anomalies 303 -- background not enabled, check for known viri 292 -- background not enabled, no virus checking 51 -- extract StuffIt 1.5.1 archive with Compact Pro 1.30 Discussion: Compact Pro 1.30 was found to be more efficient than StuffIt Deluxe 2.0.1 for all files types and compression options investigated. Compact Pro extracted it's own archives faster than Deluxe unStuffed any of the archives it created. Compact Pro also extracted net.standard StuffIt 1.5.1 archives dramatically faster than did StuffIt Deluxe for any of it's extraction options. Comparing results for the various compression and extraction options offered by StuffIt Deluxe, it is apparent that virus checking contributes little (less than 5%) to total de-archiving time; the "Background Tasks Enabled" option, on the other hand, leads to a 50% increase in de-archiving time. -- Bill (johnston@oscar.ccm.udel.edu) -- 38 Chambers St.; Newark, DE 19711; (302)368-1949 Disclaimer -- I have no connection with Aladdin or Bill Goodman other than as a registered StuffIt Deluxe user. < grrr ... >