Re^2: Better sorting than the ST

[Aristotle]

in reply to Re^5: Perl is dying (better sorting than the ST)
in thread Perl is dying

I have no idea whether this comes from APL, I’m afraid. I originally figured out this approach on my own and only afterwards learned that it’s been known in the Perl community for at least as long as the ST. (Oddly, it does not seem to get promoted much, despite its considerable advantages in the general case.) I have no idea about its history beyond that.

[diotalevi]

It is one level of indirection harder and perhaps doesn't have as many "cool points."

[parv]

By "It", did you mean Aristotle's method or GRT|ST?

[diotalevi]

Sorting the indexes is one step removed from sorting the elements directly.

[Aristotle]

I admit I never thought about the former. I did think of the latter, and it’s consistent with one of the weaknesses I see in the Perl community (namely the tendency to pick clever and shorter-looking solutions), which is why I will now often point out this approach when people talk about the ST.

Hmm. Interesting thought. It won’t stop me from advocating this approach, but it’s a much more complete explanation of the ST’s prevalence than I had before.