README.md

Markdown Benchmarks

A benchmark suit for these JVM Markdown parser:

• Laika: Scala, using parser combinators, understands also reStructuredText
• Actuarius: Scala, using parser combinators
• Pegdown: Scala, PEG-Parser (parboiled)
• Markdown4J: Java, hand-written parser
• Txtmark: Java, hand-written parser

The benchmark runs these parsers 500 times on some real-world Markdown files:

• markdownDocs/mdSpecification/Basics.md: Markdown: Basics
• markdownDocs/mdSpecification/Syntax.md: Markdown: Syntax
• markdownDocs/play/README.md: Play Framework: README
• markdownDocs/play/Highlights.md: Play Framework: What's new in Play 2.1?
• markdownDocs/play/Migration.md: Play Framework: Migration Guide

Markdown extensions of the parsers are switched off.

Usage

sbt run

My results

Fedora Linux, Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3610QM CPU @ 2.30GHz, Java version "1.7.0_04", 64 Bit

Benchmark for file markdownDocs/mdSpecification/Basics.md

1. of 5 runs

Laika        1091 ms
Actuarius    1241 ms
Pegdown      2170 ms
Markdown4J    143 ms
Txtmark       132 ms

Laika       |==========          |  50%
Actuarius   |===========         |  57%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   7%
Txtmark     |=                   |   6%

2. of 5 runs

Laika         928 ms
Actuarius    1186 ms
Pegdown      2144 ms
Markdown4J    143 ms
Txtmark       134 ms

Laika       |=========           |  43%
Actuarius   |===========         |  55%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   7%
Txtmark     |=                   |   6%

3. of 5 runs

Laika         884 ms
Actuarius    1145 ms
Pegdown      2126 ms
Markdown4J    140 ms
Txtmark       134 ms

Laika       |========            |  42%
Actuarius   |===========         |  54%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   7%
Txtmark     |=                   |   6%

4. of 5 runs

Laika         813 ms
Actuarius    1074 ms
Pegdown      2134 ms
Markdown4J    137 ms
Txtmark       141 ms

Laika       |========            |  38%
Actuarius   |==========          |  50%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   6%
Txtmark     |=                   |   7%

5. of 5 runs

Laika         794 ms
Actuarius    1069 ms
Pegdown      2135 ms
Markdown4J    135 ms
Txtmark       127 ms

Laika       |=======             |  37%
Actuarius   |==========          |  50%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   6%
Txtmark     |=                   |   6%

---

Benchmark for file markdownDocs/mdSpecification/Syntax.md

1. of 5 runs

Laika        3794 ms
Actuarius   10518 ms
Pegdown     10681 ms
Markdown4J    697 ms
Txtmark       549 ms

Laika       |=======             |  36%
Actuarius   |====================|  98%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   7%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

2. of 5 runs

Laika        3208 ms
Actuarius   10239 ms
Pegdown     10516 ms
Markdown4J    564 ms
Txtmark       535 ms

Laika       |======              |  31%
Actuarius   |=================== |  97%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   5%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

3. of 5 runs

Laika        3189 ms
Actuarius    9849 ms
Pegdown     10515 ms
Markdown4J    577 ms
Txtmark       529 ms

Laika       |======              |  30%
Actuarius   |=================== |  94%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   5%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

4. of 5 runs

Laika        3161 ms
Actuarius    9857 ms
Pegdown     10667 ms
Markdown4J    559 ms
Txtmark       537 ms

Laika       |======              |  30%
Actuarius   |==================  |  92%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   5%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

5. of 5 runs

Laika        3078 ms
Actuarius    9775 ms
Pegdown     10424 ms
Markdown4J    566 ms
Txtmark       546 ms

Laika       |======              |  30%
Actuarius   |=================== |  94%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   5%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

---

Benchmark for file markdownDocs/play/README.md

1. of 5 runs

Laika         392 ms
Actuarius     576 ms
Pegdown      1000 ms
Markdown4J    118 ms
Txtmark        85 ms

Laika       |========            |  39%
Actuarius   |============        |  58%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |==                  |  12%
Txtmark     |==                  |   9%

2. of 5 runs

Laika         388 ms
Actuarius     464 ms
Pegdown      1006 ms
Markdown4J     57 ms
Txtmark        61 ms

Laika       |========            |  39%
Actuarius   |=========           |  46%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   6%
Txtmark     |=                   |   6%

3. of 5 runs

Laika         374 ms
Actuarius     462 ms
Pegdown      1010 ms
Markdown4J     57 ms
Txtmark        61 ms

Laika       |=======             |  37%
Actuarius   |=========           |  46%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   6%
Txtmark     |=                   |   6%

4. of 5 runs

Laika         370 ms
Actuarius     434 ms
Pegdown      1013 ms
Markdown4J     57 ms
Txtmark        61 ms

Laika       |=======             |  37%
Actuarius   |=========           |  43%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   6%
Txtmark     |=                   |   6%

5. of 5 runs

Laika         370 ms
Actuarius     433 ms
Pegdown      1022 ms
Markdown4J     57 ms
Txtmark        65 ms

Laika       |=======             |  36%
Actuarius   |========            |  42%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   6%
Txtmark     |=                   |   6%

---

Benchmark for file markdownDocs/play/Highlights.md

1. of 5 runs

Laika        1269 ms
Actuarius    1449 ms
Pegdown      3988 ms
Markdown4J    240 ms
Txtmark       222 ms

Laika       |======              |  32%
Actuarius   |=======             |  36%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   6%
Txtmark     |=                   |   6%

2. of 5 runs

Laika        1235 ms
Actuarius    1336 ms
Pegdown      3989 ms
Markdown4J    190 ms
Txtmark       210 ms

Laika       |======              |  31%
Actuarius   |=======             |  33%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   5%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

3. of 5 runs

Laika        1218 ms
Actuarius    1342 ms
Pegdown      4298 ms
Markdown4J    192 ms
Txtmark       201 ms

Laika       |======              |  28%
Actuarius   |======              |  31%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   4%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

4. of 5 runs

Laika        1228 ms
Actuarius    1363 ms
Pegdown      4001 ms
Markdown4J    194 ms
Txtmark       211 ms

Laika       |======              |  31%
Actuarius   |=======             |  34%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   5%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

5. of 5 runs

Laika        1174 ms
Actuarius    1329 ms
Pegdown      4059 ms
Markdown4J    193 ms
Txtmark       204 ms

Laika       |======              |  29%
Actuarius   |=======             |  33%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   5%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

---

Benchmark for file markdownDocs/play/Migration.md

1. of 5 runs

Laika        1590 ms
Actuarius    1391 ms
Pegdown      4110 ms
Markdown4J    159 ms
Txtmark       210 ms

Laika       |========            |  39%
Actuarius   |=======             |  34%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   4%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

2. of 5 runs

Laika        1597 ms
Actuarius    1390 ms
Pegdown      4105 ms
Markdown4J    165 ms
Txtmark       207 ms

Laika       |========            |  39%
Actuarius   |=======             |  34%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   4%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

3. of 5 runs

Laika        1606 ms
Actuarius    1385 ms
Pegdown      4122 ms
Markdown4J    157 ms
Txtmark       204 ms

Laika       |========            |  39%
Actuarius   |=======             |  34%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   4%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

4. of 5 runs

Laika        1593 ms
Actuarius    1405 ms
Pegdown      4122 ms
Markdown4J    154 ms
Txtmark       202 ms

Laika       |========            |  39%
Actuarius   |=======             |  34%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   4%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%

5. of 5 runs

Laika        1598 ms
Actuarius    1409 ms
Pegdown      4206 ms
Markdown4J    160 ms
Txtmark       206 ms

Laika       |========            |  38%
Actuarius   |=======             |  33%
Pegdown     |====================| 100%
Markdown4J  |=                   |   4%
Txtmark     |=                   |   5%