Request for clarification on variable typing and explicit string-to-numeric conversion

[paravantis]

I have written a program of about 2,500 lines performing various univariate statistical calculations (I call it DESCSTAT). In it, I have implemented several sorting algorithms, with Shellsort being the easiest to implement and, incidentally, among the fastest.

However, I find the lack of explicit variable typing quite confusing. While being able to mix numeric and string variables in the same expression can occasionally be convenient, my sorting routines initially failed because the sample data (read from a text file) was being treated and sorted as strings.

In addition, since BASIC-256 lacks a standard val() function, the only way I have found to ensure a variable is treated as numeric is to write something like:

x_numeric = y_ambivalent + 0

Is there an option or setting to enable strict variable typing or explicit numeric enforcement that I might be missing?

[uglymike17]

you can try to convert is to be sure:
n = float(s) # string → floating-point number
n = int(s) # string → integer (truncates) - there is also floor and ceiling

To test, use something like :
if isnumeric(s) then
n = float(s)
else
print "Not a number: "; s
end if

typeof(variable) return 1 for int, 2 for float and 3 for string

Not sure if any of these help...

[uglymike17]

Clarification on n = float(s) # string → floating-point number
Everything read from a file is read as a string. As you found out if you read 10 from a file, it comes in as "10", meaning "10" would be smaller than "9". Not what you want in sorting algorithms....
However if you do a s="10.2" and s=float(s) you get 10.2
s="hello" with s=float(s) would give a WARNING and just use 0.0

[paravantis]

Very helpful comments, thank you very much.

[uglymike17]

You are very welcome.
You wrote DESCSTAT inBasic256 or are you trying to port it to Basic256?
As of v2.3.0, there is a native sort for arrays…

[paravantis]

I really appreciate you noting that, thank you! I had noticed it as well.

I went ahead and wrote a few different sorting algorithms in BASIC-256 to test them, and Shellsort pleasantly surprised me with how fast it runs!

[uglymike17]

I’ll take that as a compliment!
Any chance getting you to run the benchmark (under test suite) and send the result to me indicating your processor type?

[paravantis]

Certainly, just help me find the benchmark.

I could not find anything in the examples.

[uglymike17]

If you have a directory TestSuite, it should be in there. If you don’t have a TestSuite directory let me know what architecture an OS you are on so I can check. Thanks.

[paravantis]

I am on Linux Mint (Cinnamon).

I found the test suite folder - it was outside the examples folder.

I see many programs there, which would you like me to run?

[uglymike17]

There should be a benchmark.kbs (maybe in it’s own folder?)

[uglymike17]

Windows has it in /Testsuite/Benchmark/benchmark.kbs

[paravantis]

. text output (LOCATE and one character) - 17539ms

BASIC256 benchmark results
version 2030000 ostype 1 scale 1.0

test operations ms per second

integer loop (for/next) 2,000,000 145 13,793,103
integer loop (while) 2,000,000 314 6,369,426
floating point loop (add) 2,000,000 148 13,513,513
floating point loop (multiply and divide) 2,000,000 198 10,101,010
integer modulo 2,000,000 205 9,756,097
math functions (sin, cos, sqr) 900,000 56 16,071,428
function calls 500,000 179 2,793,296
subroutine calls 500,000 171 2,923,976
recursion (fibonacci 21) 35,421 14 2,530,071
array assignment (one dimension) 200,000 19 10,526,315
array indexing (one dimension) 200,000 25 8,000,000
array assignment (two dimensions) 160,000 20 8,000,000
array indexing (two dimensions) 160,000 20 8,000,000
insertion sort (2000 elements) 2,000 330 6,060
SORT numbers (20000 elements) 400,000 60 6,666,666
SORT strings (20000 elements) 400,000 97 4,123,711
SORT 2D by column (20000x3) 400,000 103 3,883,495
MAT ADD (60x60) 720,000 4 180,000,000
MAT TRN (60x60) 720,000 3 240,000,000
MAT MUL (60x60) 2,160,000 5 432,000,000
MAT INV (30x30) 500 8 62,500
vector DOT 200,000 49 4,081,632
vector CROSS 200,000 66 3,030,303
vector NORM 200,000 30 6,666,666
vector UNIT 200,000 48 4,166,666
string concatenation (grow by one) 100,000 1032 96,899
string search (instr) 20,000 3 6,666,666
string replace 2,000 17 117,647
string slicing (mid) 200,000 35 5,714,285
string case conversion (upper) 20,000 3446 5,803
number to string conversion 100,000 19 5,263,157
map insert 50,000 33 1,515,151
map lookup 50,000 23 2,173,913
noise (one dimension) 200,000 26 7,692,307
noise (two dimensions) 200,000 34 5,882,352
random 1,000,000 86 11,627,906
file output (writeline) 100,000 44 2,272,727
file input (readline) 100,000 25 4,000,000
database insert (commit every row) 20 98 204
database insert (one transaction) 20,000 61 327,868
database select 20,020 16 1,251,250
graphics plot 20,000 11 1,818,181
graphics line 20,000 429 46,620
graphics rect 10,000 115 86,956
graphics circle 10,000 22 454,545
graphics stamp (five sided poly) 5,000 14 357,142
graphics frames (clear, draw, refresh) 300 22 13,636
graphics getslice (400x400) 160,000 14 11,428,571
graphics putslice (400x400) 160,000 6 26,666,666
sprite place (no refresh) 32,000 10 3,200,000
sprite collision test 20,000 2 10,000,000
sprite frames (move all, refresh) 300 31 9,677
text output (flowing pane) 500 2027 246
text output (TEXTSCREEN grid) 5,000 11819 423
text output (LOCATE and one character) 5,000 17539 285

total run time 39477 39.477s

Rates are operations per second and are only comparable between runs that
used the same scale. The graphics, sprite and text output lines depend on the
windowing system as much as on the interpreter.


[uglymike17]

Thanks. Can I get the exact cpu you have? I am making an excel with benchmark data and currently have RPi4, Apple M1, AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

[paravantis]

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-Core Processor × 6

[uglymike17]

Thanks!

[uglymike17]

BTW, there is a Discord channel if you would prefer to chat there.... ( see basics256.org on the Community tab)

[paravantis]

I have never managed to like Discord, with the confusing invites and difficulty of locating past messages.

Is the BASIC-256 Discord channel quite active?

[uglymike17]

Nope. It is quite empty and silent... Too bad really

[paravantis]

I am happy we are talking here.

[uglymike17]

No problem. That’s what Discussions are for. Discord is just another option. No pressure.