timeit.py

import time
from contextlib import contextmanager
from decimal import Decimal

ITERATIONS = 500000
TRIALS = 10

makedecimal_lambda = lambda v: Decimal(str(v))

def makedecimal_func(v):
    return Decimal(str(v))

@contextmanager
def timeit(label):
    start = time.time()
    yield
    print '%s took %s' % (label, time.time() - start)


for i in range(TRIALS):
    with timeit('lambda'): 
        map(makedecimal_lambda, range(ITERATIONS))

    with timeit('func'):
        map(makedecimal_func, range(ITERATIONS))

    print '-' * 60