Sometimes, but only sometimes, small changes to the code can reap large rewards. As an example, if the application truely is Perl 4 code, then I believe (but could be wrong) that Perl 4 didn't support hashes. Assuming for the moment that is true -- I'll be quickly corrected if it isn't:) -- and (for example) the application does any sort of lookups into arrays of data using grep, then changing the array(s) being search linearly to hash(es) could have a dramatic effect without too much effort.
I'm not really sure I understand the reluctance to modify. You said this is because you hope to upgrade to the next version sometime in the future. If you make changes now, how does that stop you upgrading? The only reason refactoring the code (ie. not changing what the code does, but only the way it does it) would impact your upgrade, is if you discovered that the later version wasn't as efficient as your modifed version. In which case you would have very strong grounds for requesting that your changes be fed back into the latest version before you took delivery. The supplier might even thankyou for it and reduce your bill (some chance:). Their customers almost certainly would thankyou.
At the end of the day, if you change nothing, nothing will change. If you can't change the code, then you already know the other options. More memory, a faster processor, harddisks etc.
I think you already knew this though, so it begs the question, what were you hoping for?
Oh! You have already done the Monk's ritual haven't you?
Examine what is said, not who speaks.
"Efficiency is intelligent laziness." -David Dunham
"When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." -Richard Buckminster Fuller
| [reply] |
Take three jars of incense, two large black candles, a mag tape containing the sources, floppies or a cd might work, to a virgin
piece of consecrated ground, within earshot of the monastery bells (not sure if it would work via internet radio??), at dawn on the third Tuesday after the first Monday before Ash Wednesday, by the Gregorian calandar (See Date::Manip, but take 3 strong men with you) ....
Moveed here from my scratchpad to free its use for other things and maintain the link.
| [reply] |
| [reply] |
I think you already knew this though, so it begs the question, what were you hoping for?
A magic wand, a different angle, anything that I hadn't thought of. Can't you tell? I'm frustrated.
Nevertheless, thanks for your help. We will probably end up delaying until new hardware is in the budget. :-/
| [reply] |
Well, your major concern seems to be avoiding large changes to ensure that you can hope to upgrade - have you tried talking to the vendor, to see if either they are already working on speed improvements, or would consider rolling your changes into any revision of the product?
Hugo
| [reply] |
Yes, but their timeline does not match up with ours. We are on our own as far as modifications go.
| [reply] |
