[erlang-questions 56] Re: A sudoku solver in Erlang compared to Python

Ahmed Omar spawn.think@REDACTED
Sun Mar 27 20:56:55 CEST 2011


Regarding the eliminations number, i believe you have a bug in counting them
(correct me if i'm wrong. You shouldn't increment the counter until an
actual elimination occurs.

-eliminate(Puzzle, [Square|T], Digit) ->
+eliminate({Dict, Count}, [Square|T], Digit) ->
     %% Eliminate the specified Digit from all specified Squares.
+    Puzzle = {Dict, Count+1},

 eliminate({ValuesDict, Eliminations}, Square, Digit, NewValues, _) ->
     NewDict = dict:store(Square, NewValues, ValuesDict),
-    NewPuzzle = peer_eliminate({NewDict, Eliminations+1}, Square,
NewValues),
+    NewPuzzle = peer_eliminate({NewDict, Eliminations}, Square, NewValues),



On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 5:49 PM, Evans, Matthew <mevans@REDACTED> wrote:

>
> Good call on using atoms instead of lists. I wouldn't have imagined it
> would be that much faster. So on my computer the new Erlang implementation
> is much faster than python:
>
> Erlang with parse transforms and HiPE:
>
> [mevans@REDACTED ~]$ ./sudoku
> expanding...
> expanding...
> expanding...
> expanding...
> Solved 50 of 50 puzzles from easy50.txt in 0.059767 secs (836.58 Hz)
> (92538 total eliminations, avg 1850.76, median 1811, max 2628, min 1767).
> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 0.344457 secs (275.80 Hz)
> (901201 total eliminations, avg 9486.33, median 6267, max 56820, min 1792).
> Solved 11 of 11 puzzles from hardest.txt in 0.025747 secs (427.23 Hz)
> (33653 total eliminations, avg 3059.36, median 3023, max 5346, min 1786).
>
>
> Python:
>
> [mevans@REDACTED ~]$ ./sudoku.py
> All tests pass.
> Solved 50 of 50 puzzles from easy50.txt in 0.530000 secs (94.34 Hz)
>  (33059 total eliminations, avg 661.00, median 648, max 830, min 648).
> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 3.980000 secs (23.87 Hz)
>  (221997 total eliminations, avg 2336.00, median 1492, max 11512, min 648).
> Solved 11 of 11 puzzles from hardest.txt in 0.150000 secs (73.33 Hz)
>  (9436 total eliminations, avg 857.00, median 817, max 1198, min 648).
> [mevans@REDACTED ~]$
>
>
> The initial implementation in Erlang:
>
> [mevans@REDACTED ~]$ ./sudoku
> ./sudoku:4: Warning: variable 'Args' is unused
> Solved 50 of 50 puzzles from easy50.txt in 0.492551 secs (101.51 Hz)
> (92538 total eliminations, avg 1850.76, median 1811, max 2628, min 1767).
> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 3.120420 secs (30.44 Hz)
> (901201 total eliminations, avg 9486.33, median 6267, max 56820, min 1792).
> Solved 11 of 11 puzzles from hardest.txt in 0.147977 secs (74.34 Hz)
> (33653 total eliminations, avg 3059.36, median 3023, max 5346, min 1786).
>
> ________________________________________
> From: Kresten Krab Thorup [krab@REDACTED]
> Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2011 9:28 AM
> To: Evans, Matthew
> Cc: Ahmed Omar; erlang-questions@REDACTED; Andreas Pauley
> Subject: Re: [erlang-questions 41] Re: A sudoku solver in Erlang compared
> to Python
>
> For reference, I tried to run this with Erjang and R14B01 (with BEAN and
> HiPE/o3) on my machine ...
>
> Oh, and I changed the square names to be atoms in stead of [X,Y] pairs,
> which speeds up things quite a lot too ... e.g. :
>
> squares() ->
>   %% Returns a list of 81 square names, including "A1" etc.
>    [erlang:list_to_atom([X,Y]) || X <- "ABCDEFGHI", Y <- "123456789"].
>
>
> BEAM
> > sudoku_main:run_solver(["solve"]).
> Solved 50 of 50 puzzles from easy50.txt in 0.678921 secs (73.65 Hz)
>  (92538 total eliminations, avg 1850.76, median 1811, max 2628, min 1767).
> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 4.373277 secs (21.72 Hz)
>  (901201 total eliminations, avg 9486.33, median 6267, max 56820, min
> 1792).
> Solved 11 of 11 puzzles from hardest.txt in 0.198780 secs (55.34 Hz)
>  (33653 total eliminations, avg 3059.36, median 3023, max 5346, min 1786).
> ok
>
> Erjang
> > sudoku_main:run_solver(["solve"]).
> Solved 50 of 50 puzzles from easy50.txt in 0.653891 secs (76.47 Hz)
>  (92538 total eliminations, avg 1850.76, median 1811, max 2628, min 1767).
> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 4.354102 secs (21.82 Hz)
>  (901201 total eliminations, avg 9486.33, median 6267, max 56820, min
> 1792).
> Solved 11 of 11 puzzles from hardest.txt in 0.208266 secs (52.82 Hz)
>  (33653 total eliminations, avg 3059.36, median 3023, max 5346, min 1786).
> ok
>
> r14b01 / HiPE / o3
> > sudoku_main:run_solver(["solve"]).
> Solved 50 of 50 puzzles from easy50.txt in 0.611918 secs (81.71 Hz)
>  (92538 total eliminations, avg 1850.76, median 1811, max 2628, min 1767).
> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 3.759281 secs (25.27 Hz)
>  (901201 total eliminations, avg 9486.33, median 6267, max 56820, min
> 1792).
> Solved 11 of 11 puzzles from hardest.txt in 0.169039 secs (65.07 Hz)
>  (33653 total eliminations, avg 3059.36, median 3023, max 5346, min 1786).
> ok
>
> This version does not use pmap (Erjang's scheduler still needs some work),
> but does use atoms for square names, and ct_expand.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Kresten
>
>
> On Mar 26, 2011, at 23:33 , Evans, Matthew wrote:
>
> > Awesome point, I was going to actually suggest that since this is all
> calculating static data he just pre-calculates it and puts it in a -define.
> Or even better, if he is brave he could write a parse transform.
> >
> > Using Ulf's ct_expand module (
> http://forum.trapexit.org/viewtopic.php?p=20260) I get even better
> performance:
> >
> > Without the parse transform (but using native):
> >
> > 4> sudoku:print_results("top95.txt", "\n").
> > Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 0.827966 secs (114.74 Hz)
> > (901201 total eliminations, avg 9486.33, median 6267, max 56820, min
> 1792).
> > ok
> >
> >
> > With a parse transform:
> >
> > 2>  sudoku:print_results("top95.txt", "\n").
> > Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 0.469908 secs (202.17 Hz)
> > (901201 total eliminations, avg 9486.33, median 6267, max 56820, min
> 1792).
> >
> >
> > The code looks like:
> >
> > -compile({parse_transform, ct_expand}).
> >
> >
> > squares() ->
> >    %% Returns a list of 81 square names, including "A1" etc.
> >    ct_expand:term(
> >        [[X,Y] || X <- "ABCDEFGHI", Y <- "123456789"]
> >    ).
> > col_squares() ->
> >    %% All the square names for each column.
> >    ct_expand:term(
> >        [[[X,Y] || X <- "ABCDEFGHI", Y <- [C]] || C <- "123456789"]
> >      ).
> > row_squares() ->
> >    %% All the square names for each row.
> >    ct_expand:term(
> >        [[[X,Y] || X <- [R], Y <- "123456789"] || R <- "ABCDEFGHI"]
> >    ).
> > box_squares() ->
> >    %% All the square names for each box.
> >    ct_expand:term(
> >        [[[X,Y] || X <- R, Y <- C] || R <- ["ABC", "DEF", "GHI"], C <-
> ["123", "456", "789"]]
> >    ).
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________
> > From: Ahmed Omar [spawn.think@REDACTED]
> > Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2011 4:39 PM
> > To: Evans, Matthew
> > Cc: Andreas Pauley; erlang-questions@REDACTED
> > Subject: Re: [erlang-questions 20] Re: A sudoku solver in Erlang compared
> to Python
> >
> > BTW, beside looking into reducing eleminations (which requires deep
> dive), if u do some time profiling using eprof u will find that most of the
> time spent actually in the cross functions
> > sudoku:'-cross/2-lc$^1/1-1-'/4                       96558660  37.46
>  35024918  [      0.36]
> >
> > On Sat, Mar 26, 2011 at 9:33 PM, Ahmed Omar <spawn.think@REDACTED
> <mailto:spawn.think@REDACTED>> wrote:
> > actually instead of doing
> >
> >
> >
> >    NonUniquePeers = shallow_flatten([S || S <- units(Square)]),
> >
> >
> >
> >    PeerSet = sets:from_list(NonUniquePeers),
> >
> >
> >
> >    PeersWithSelf = sets:to_list(PeerSet),
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > can't u just do
> >
> >
> > PeersWithSelf = lists:usort(NonUniquePeers).
> >
> >
> >
> > ?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Mar 26, 2011 at 9:14 PM, Evans, Matthew <mevans@REDACTED
> <mailto:mevans@REDACTED>> wrote:
> > Good call....gb_sets should be faster. Compiled to native it runs faster
> still
> >
> > 9> sudoku:print_results("top95.txt", "\n").
> > Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 0.810156 secs (117.26 Hz)
> > (901201 total eliminations, avg 9486.33, median 6267, max 56820, min
> 1792).
> > ok
> >
> > ________________________________________
> > From: Ahmed Omar [spawn.think@REDACTED<mailto:spawn.think@REDACTED>]
> > Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2011 3:08 PM
> > To: Andreas Pauley
> > Cc: Evans, Matthew; erlang-questions@REDACTED<mailto:
> erlang-questions@REDACTED>
> > Subject: Re: [erlang-questions 20] Re: A sudoku solver in Erlang compared
> to Python
> >
> > using gb_sets instead of sets could decrease eliminations a bit and give
> u some boost. However, i didn't dive deeper into the code or the algorithm.
> >
> > On Sat, Mar 26, 2011 at 9:41 AM, Andreas Pauley <apauley@REDACTED
> <mailto:apauley@REDACTED><mailto:apauley@REDACTED<mailto:
> apauley@REDACTED>>> wrote:
> > Thanks, I've changed the compile options and this definitely makes it
> > somewhat faster:
> >
> https://github.com/apauley/sudoku-in-erlang/commit/b7ce2abb6ca013850ed8f3e8fd7f5f6be7004cbb
> >
> > Strangely the native flag is not documented here:
> > http://www.erlang.org/doc/man/compile.html#file-2
> >
> > The more interesting improvement would be to decrease the number of
> > eliminations performed, but for that I'll have to go deep into the
> > code :-)
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Mar 26, 2011 at 12:16 AM, Evans, Matthew <mevans@REDACTED
> <mailto:mevans@REDACTED><mailto:mevans@REDACTED<mailto:
> mevans@REDACTED>>> wrote:
> >> Without going deep into the code, one thing to try is compile with the
> native flag (running the tests from the VM shell here):
> >>
> >> Without native set:
> >> 18> c(sudoku).
> >> {ok,sudoku}
> >> 19>  sudoku:print_results("top95.txt", "\n").
> >> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 2.038825 secs (46.60 Hz)
> >> (922678 total eliminations, avg 9712.40, median 6596, max 55370, min
> 1797).
> >> ok
> >>
> >>
> >> With native set:
> >> 20> c(sudoku,[native]).
> >> {ok,sudoku}
> >> 21>  sudoku:print_results("top95.txt", "\n").
> >> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 1.613416 secs (58.88 Hz)
> >> (922678 total eliminations, avg 9712.40, median 6596, max 55370, min
> 1797).
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: erlang-questions-bounces@REDACTED<mailto:
> erlang-questions-bounces@REDACTED><mailto:
> erlang-questions-bounces@REDACTED<mailto:
> erlang-questions-bounces@REDACTED>> [mailto:
> erlang-questions-bounces@REDACTED<mailto:
> erlang-questions-bounces@REDACTED><mailto:
> erlang-questions-bounces@REDACTED<mailto:
> erlang-questions-bounces@REDACTED>>] On Behalf Of Andreas Pauley
> >> Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 8:15 AM
> >> To: erlang-questions@REDACTED<mailto:erlang-questions@REDACTED
> ><mailto:erlang-questions@REDACTED<mailto:erlang-questions@REDACTED>>
> >> Subject: [erlang-questions 4] A sudoku solver in Erlang compared to
> Python
> >>
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> In my quest to learn Erlang I've translated Peter Norvig's sudoku
> >> solver into Erlang:
> >> https://github.com/apauley/sudoku-in-erlang
> >>
> >> For comparison, my slightly modified version of Norvig's Python code
> >> can be found here:
> >> https://github.com/apauley/sudoku-by-norvig
> >>
> >> I like the pattern matching, it was fun to do the entire solution
> >> without a single if or case statement :-)
> >> Something that bothers me though is that the Python solution seems to
> >> be faster, even after I've made the Erlang solution use multiple
> >> processors.
> >>
> >> In order to compare the two solutions I counted the number of
> >> eliminations each performed.
> >> The eliminate function is the core of the solution, for example
> >> assigning a single value to a square is implemented as the elimination
> >> of all other values.
> >>
> >> With the Erlang implementation I get:
> >> sudoku-in-erlang$ ./sudoku
> >> All tests passed :-)
> >> Solved 50 of 50 puzzles from easy50.txt in 2.890978 secs (17.30 Hz)
> >> (93403 total eliminations, avg 1868.06, median 1810, max 2517, min
> 1770).
> >> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 22.004369 secs (4.32 Hz)
> >> (922678 total eliminations, avg 9712.40, median 6596, max 55370, min
> 1797).
> >> Solved 11 of 11 puzzles from hardest.txt in 0.851678 secs (12.92 Hz)
> >> (32339 total eliminations, avg 2939.91, median 2894, max 4779, min
> 1781).
> >>
> >> And with the Python implementation:
> >> sudoku-by-norvig$ ./sudoku.py
> >> All tests pass.
> >> Solved 50 of 50 puzzles from easy50.txt in 0.792008 secs (63.13 Hz)
> >> (33059 total eliminations, avg 661.00, median 648, max 830, min 648).
> >> Solved 95 of 95 puzzles from top95.txt in 5.903875 secs (16.09 Hz)
> >> (221997 total eliminations, avg 2336.00, median 1492, max 11512, min
> 648).
> >> Solved 11 of 11 puzzles from hardest.txt in 0.237532 secs (46.31 Hz)
> >> (9436 total eliminations, avg 857.00, median 817, max 1198, min 648).
> >>
> >> So according to the stats above, the Python solution performs less
> >> computations when given exactly the same input.
> >> The Erlang code is as close to the Python as I could make it, I've
> >> done more or less a direct translation of the algorithms used.
> >>
> >> I suspect that there are some lazy evaluation happening in the Python
> >> version, possibly generators, although I haven't pinpointed it yet.
> >>
> >> How can I improve my Erlang code in this solution?
> >>
> >> Kind regards,
> >> Andreas
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> erlang-questions mailing list
> >> erlang-questions@REDACTED<mailto:erlang-questions@REDACTED><mailto:
> erlang-questions@REDACTED<mailto:erlang-questions@REDACTED>>
> >> http://erlang.org/mailman/listinfo/erlang-questions
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > erlang-questions mailing list
> > erlang-questions@REDACTED<mailto:erlang-questions@REDACTED><mailto:
> erlang-questions@REDACTED<mailto:erlang-questions@REDACTED>>
> > http://erlang.org/mailman/listinfo/erlang-questions
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Best Regards,
> > - Ahmed Omar
> > http://nl.linkedin.com/in/adiaa
> > Follow me on twitter
> > @spawn_think<http://twitter.com/#!/spawn_think>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Best Regards,
> > - Ahmed Omar
> > http://nl.linkedin.com/in/adiaa
> > Follow me on twitter
> > @spawn_think<http://twitter.com/#!/spawn_think>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Best Regards,
> > - Ahmed Omar
> > http://nl.linkedin.com/in/adiaa
> > Follow me on twitter
> > @spawn_think<http://twitter.com/#!/spawn_think>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > erlang-questions mailing list
> > erlang-questions@REDACTED
> > http://erlang.org/mailman/listinfo/erlang-questions
>
>


-- 
Best Regards,
- Ahmed Omar
http://nl.linkedin.com/in/adiaa
Follow me on twitter
@spawn_think <http://twitter.com/#!/spawn_think>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://erlang.org/pipermail/erlang-questions/attachments/20110327/75226450/attachment.htm>


More information about the erlang-questions mailing list