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deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Lobsters·Jun 29·5 min read
Lobsters·Jun 29·5 min readPystd standard library, similar-ish functionality with a fraction of the compile time
TL;DR
C++ compilation is notoriously slow, often taking significantly longer than C due to the standard library's implementation. Jussi Pakkanen developed Pystd, a custom standard library for C++ designed to reduce compile times.
✦ Why It Matters
Engineers can explore Pystd to potentially reduce their C++ project compile times significantly.
Key Takeaways
- Consider using Pystd for faster C++ compilation.
- Evaluate the impact of standard library design on compile times.
- Test compile times with and without optimizations.
- Share feedback on Pystd to help improve its design.
Full Summary
C++ is widely recognized for its slow compilation times, which can be exacerbated by the standard library's design. Jussi Pakkanen, known for creating the Meson build system, has developed Pystd, a new standard library for C++ that is not based on the ISO specification but offers similar functionality.
By analyzing compile times, Pakkanen highlights that a simple C program can compile in about 0.02 seconds, while a comparable C++ program can take up to 2.3 seconds. This 100x slowdown is particularly problematic as project sizes grow, leading to exponentially longer compile times.
Pystd aims to mitigate these issues by providing a more efficient alternative, potentially reducing compile times significantly. The implications of this work could lead to faster development cycles and improved productivity for C++ developers.