I totally did not expect this!

http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/u64/which-programming-languages-are-fastest.php?calc=chart&gcc=on&gpp=on&javasteady=on&ghc=on&ifc=on&sbcl=on&vw=on&python3=on

GCC and G++ are the fastest. That's the norm.
Java7 faster than Haskell and Fortran. WTF?
LispSBCL and SmalltalkVW faster than Python 3. Jesus Christ.

>>4
Don't get so high on yourself just yet. MSVC++ produces code that is roughly 15-25% faster than GCC/G++. Intel C++ produces code that is roughly 20-35% faster than GCC/G++. Clang/LLVM is around on par with GCC but could overtake it in the optimization department due to its faster development pace.

Instead, all this experiment does is pit one compiler against another. While language constructs and libraries ultimately do have an impact and limit resulting program performance, the quality of the compiler is also just as important.

GCC is a horrible compiler full of hacks and legacy that is developed at a glacial pace.

I would like to see the open-source Intel C++ compiler added to these benchmarks, and perhaps Clang/LLVM as well.