gistfile1.rb

require "rubygems"
require "rbench"

def omg_slow
  return 1
end

def omg_fast
  1
end

RBench.run(10_000_000) do
  column :one, :title => "Using return"
  column :two, :title => "Avoiding return"
  
  report "Returning from methods" do
    one { omg_slow }
    two { omg_fast }
  end
end

__END__

ruby1.8 gistfile1.rb
                               Using return | Avoiding return |
---------------------------------------------------------------
Returning from methods                4.784 |           3.050 |


ruby1.9 gistfile1.rb
                               Using return | Avoiding return |
---------------------------------------------------------------
Returning from methods                2.278 |           2.228 |