gistfile1.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
# demonstrate built-in functions' efficiency.

import timeit
import random

# prepare test data
numbers = range(2)
a = []
for n in numbers:
    a = [n] * 10000
random.shuffle(a)

def test():
    c = {}
    for x in a:
        c[x] = c.get(x, 0) + 1

def test2():
    c = {}
    for n in numbers:
        c[n] = 0
    for x in a:
        c[x] += 1

def test3():
    c = {}
    for n in numbers:
        c[n] = a.count(n)


if __name__=='__main__':
    t = timeit.Timer("test()", "from __main__ import test")
    print 'test', t.timeit(number=1000)

    t = timeit.Timer("test2()", "from __main__ import test2")
    print 'test2', t.timeit(number=1000)

    t = timeit.Timer("test3()", "from __main__ import test3")
    print 'test3', t.timeit(number=1000)