Adopt the latest implementation for String#blank? from ActiveSupport and update benchmark result

[ken3ypa]

Diffs

• Adopted the latest implementation for String#blank? from ActiveSupport. (ref)
• Update the benchmark to reflect the latest implementation.

I noticed a minor diffs between the latest code in ActiveSupport and benchmarking code in this gem.
After updating, the performance difference appears to be smaller; still this gem remains faster.

Thanks for making this gem. I really like this gem.

[mjankowski]

I noticed same thing and was going to do similar PR.

I see about a ~1x to ~3x diff locally in benchmark. Still noticeable, but smaller than the ~10+ year old versions of ruby/rails this first worked on.

Also noticed the ruby versions listed in the README are pretty out of date ... might be worth a once over on the ruby/rails versions supported to assist anyone arriving here with an "is this still relevant, given perf improvements in ruby/rails?" sort of question.

[n-rodriguez]

Hi there! Is this still relevant, given perf improvements in ruby/rails? 😝 (I'm running Rails 7.2 and Ruby 3.3.4)

Thank you!

[mjankowski]

I added a copy of the latest Rails 8 blank? implementation to the benchmark, and I see this locally..

================== Test String Length: 0 ==================
ruby 3.3.6 (2024-11-05 revision 75015d4c1f) [arm64-darwin24]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     6.423M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     6.557M i/100ms
          Slow Blank   457.277k i/100ms
      New Slow Blank     5.057M i/100ms
       Rails 8 Blank     4.056M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     64.628M (± 0.6%) i/s   (15.47 ns/i) -    327.590M in   5.069030s
  Fast ActiveSupport     65.698M (± 0.4%) i/s   (15.22 ns/i) -    334.389M in   5.089878s
          Slow Blank      4.658M (± 1.4%) i/s  (214.71 ns/i) -     23.321M in   5.008235s
      New Slow Blank     47.121M (±10.8%) i/s   (21.22 ns/i) -    237.660M in   5.103711s
       Rails 8 Blank     45.909M (± 9.6%) i/s   (21.78 ns/i) -    231.194M in   5.081250s

Comparison:
  Fast ActiveSupport: 65697724.1 i/s
          Fast Blank: 64627778.2 i/s - 1.02x  slower
      New Slow Blank: 47121045.6 i/s - 1.39x  slower
       Rails 8 Blank: 45909000.4 i/s - 1.43x  slower
          Slow Blank:  4657501.3 i/s - 14.11x  slower


================== Test String Length: 6 ==================
ruby 3.3.6 (2024-11-05 revision 75015d4c1f) [arm64-darwin24]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     3.397M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     3.462M i/100ms
          Slow Blank   581.200k i/100ms
      New Slow Blank   901.615k i/100ms
       Rails 8 Blank     1.612M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     35.171M (± 1.1%) i/s   (28.43 ns/i) -    176.669M in   5.023770s
  Fast ActiveSupport     35.760M (± 0.6%) i/s   (27.96 ns/i) -    180.043M in   5.034976s
          Slow Blank      5.608M (± 1.5%) i/s  (178.31 ns/i) -     28.479M in   5.079308s
      New Slow Blank      8.936M (± 2.9%) i/s  (111.90 ns/i) -     45.081M in   5.048721s
       Rails 8 Blank     16.075M (± 2.2%) i/s   (62.21 ns/i) -     80.606M in   5.016802s

Comparison:
  Fast ActiveSupport: 35759522.4 i/s
          Fast Blank: 35170701.1 i/s - 1.02x  slower
       Rails 8 Blank: 16075265.9 i/s - 2.22x  slower
      New Slow Blank:  8936424.7 i/s - 4.00x  slower
          Slow Blank:  5608131.2 i/s - 6.38x  slower


================== Test String Length: 14 ==================
ruby 3.3.6 (2024-11-05 revision 75015d4c1f) [arm64-darwin24]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     6.099M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     6.051M i/100ms
          Slow Blank   893.420k i/100ms
      New Slow Blank   555.400k i/100ms
       Rails 8 Blank     1.669M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     60.863M (± 1.0%) i/s   (16.43 ns/i) -    304.934M in   5.010616s
  Fast ActiveSupport     59.625M (± 1.0%) i/s   (16.77 ns/i) -    302.540M in   5.074608s
          Slow Blank      8.655M (± 2.5%) i/s  (115.54 ns/i) -     43.778M in   5.061295s
      New Slow Blank      5.386M (± 2.0%) i/s  (185.68 ns/i) -     27.215M in   5.055308s
       Rails 8 Blank     16.731M (± 3.1%) i/s   (59.77 ns/i) -     85.115M in   5.092575s

Comparison:
          Fast Blank: 60863229.8 i/s
  Fast ActiveSupport: 59624615.7 i/s - 1.02x  slower
       Rails 8 Blank: 16730799.6 i/s - 3.64x  slower
          Slow Blank:  8654809.4 i/s - 7.03x  slower
      New Slow Blank:  5385599.9 i/s - 11.30x  slower


================== Test String Length: 24 ==================
ruby 3.3.6 (2024-11-05 revision 75015d4c1f) [arm64-darwin24]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     4.530M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     4.250M i/100ms
          Slow Blank   804.999k i/100ms
      New Slow Blank   510.141k i/100ms
       Rails 8 Blank     1.383M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     44.464M (± 1.0%) i/s   (22.49 ns/i) -    226.505M in   5.094640s
  Fast ActiveSupport     41.745M (± 1.1%) i/s   (23.95 ns/i) -    212.484M in   5.090676s
          Slow Blank      7.883M (± 3.1%) i/s  (126.85 ns/i) -     39.445M in   5.008313s
      New Slow Blank      5.100M (± 1.3%) i/s  (196.09 ns/i) -     25.507M in   5.002451s
       Rails 8 Blank     14.018M (± 0.6%) i/s   (71.34 ns/i) -     70.531M in   5.031843s

Comparison:
          Fast Blank: 44464464.5 i/s
  Fast ActiveSupport: 41745410.8 i/s - 1.07x  slower
       Rails 8 Blank: 14017581.0 i/s - 3.17x  slower
          Slow Blank:  7883372.4 i/s - 5.64x  slower
      New Slow Blank:  5099817.7 i/s - 8.72x  slower


================== Test String Length: 136 ==================
ruby 3.3.6 (2024-11-05 revision 75015d4c1f) [arm64-darwin24]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     4.521M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     4.252M i/100ms
          Slow Blank   806.475k i/100ms
      New Slow Blank   533.680k i/100ms
       Rails 8 Blank     1.354M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     44.379M (± 1.3%) i/s   (22.53 ns/i) -    226.058M in   5.094697s
  Fast ActiveSupport     42.004M (± 1.0%) i/s   (23.81 ns/i) -    212.588M in   5.061687s
          Slow Blank      7.894M (± 2.5%) i/s  (126.68 ns/i) -     39.517M in   5.009225s
      New Slow Blank      5.377M (± 1.3%) i/s  (185.99 ns/i) -     27.218M in   5.063003s
       Rails 8 Blank     14.033M (± 0.7%) i/s   (71.26 ns/i) -     70.407M in   5.017337s

Comparison:
          Fast Blank: 44379021.9 i/s
  Fast ActiveSupport: 42003713.8 i/s - 1.06x  slower
       Rails 8 Blank: 14033428.6 i/s - 3.16x  slower
          Slow Blank:  7893899.6 i/s - 5.62x  slower
      New Slow Blank:  5376739.9 i/s - 8.25x  slower

Suggests there's still a ~1-3X benefit depending on string length.

[borama]

Here are some results on ruby 3.4.1 with YJIT and latest ActiveSupport implementation of blank?:

ruby 3.4.1 (2024-12-25 revision 48d4efcb85) +YJIT +PRISM [x86_64-linux]

================== Test String Length: 0 ==================
ruby 3.4.1 (2024-12-25 revision 48d4efcb85) +YJIT +PRISM [x86_64-linux]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     4.490M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     4.440M i/100ms
       Rails 8 blank     4.188M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank    188.641M (± 1.2%) i/s    (5.30 ns/i) -    947.380M in   5.022870s
  Fast ActiveSupport    187.872M (± 1.1%) i/s    (5.32 ns/i) -    941.203M in   5.010384s
       Rails 8 blank    248.387M (± 0.9%) i/s    (4.03 ns/i) -      1.244B in   5.007652s

Comparison:
       Rails 8 blank: 248386874.8 i/s
          Fast Blank: 188640998.3 i/s - 1.32x  slower
  Fast ActiveSupport: 187872439.5 i/s - 1.32x  slower


================== Test String Length: 6 ==================
ruby 3.4.1 (2024-12-25 revision 48d4efcb85) +YJIT +PRISM [x86_64-linux]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     2.745M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     2.449M i/100ms
       Rails 8 blank     1.475M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     26.365M (± 5.3%) i/s   (37.93 ns/i) -    131.757M in   5.012042s
  Fast ActiveSupport     24.440M (± 0.5%) i/s   (40.92 ns/i) -    122.429M in   5.009457s
       Rails 8 blank     14.814M (± 0.9%) i/s   (67.50 ns/i) -     75.202M in   5.076799s

Comparison:
          Fast Blank: 26365038.2 i/s
  Fast ActiveSupport: 24440119.3 i/s - 1.08x  slower
       Rails 8 blank: 14814029.7 i/s - 1.78x  slower


================== Test String Length: 14 ==================
ruby 3.4.1 (2024-12-25 revision 48d4efcb85) +YJIT +PRISM [x86_64-linux]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     9.585M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     8.615M i/100ms
       Rails 8 blank     1.702M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     95.678M (± 1.2%) i/s   (10.45 ns/i) -    479.253M in   5.009759s
  Fast ActiveSupport     85.609M (± 0.8%) i/s   (11.68 ns/i) -    430.773M in   5.032218s
       Rails 8 blank     17.322M (± 0.7%) i/s   (57.73 ns/i) -     86.786M in   5.010387s

Comparison:
          Fast Blank: 95677623.9 i/s
  Fast ActiveSupport: 85608609.8 i/s - 1.12x  slower
       Rails 8 blank: 17322217.4 i/s - 5.52x  slower


================== Test String Length: 24 ==================
ruby 3.4.1 (2024-12-25 revision 48d4efcb85) +YJIT +PRISM [x86_64-linux]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     3.787M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     3.465M i/100ms
       Rails 8 blank     1.257M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     37.701M (± 0.5%) i/s   (26.52 ns/i) -    189.334M in   5.022161s
  Fast ActiveSupport     33.638M (± 2.4%) i/s   (29.73 ns/i) -    169.784M in   5.050371s
       Rails 8 blank     12.706M (± 0.8%) i/s   (78.70 ns/i) -     64.122M in   5.046903s

Comparison:
          Fast Blank: 37700741.3 i/s
  Fast ActiveSupport: 33638103.1 i/s - 1.12x  slower
       Rails 8 blank: 12705926.9 i/s - 2.97x  slower


================== Test String Length: 136 ==================
ruby 3.4.1 (2024-12-25 revision 48d4efcb85) +YJIT +PRISM [x86_64-linux]
Warming up --------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     3.779M i/100ms
  Fast ActiveSupport     3.254M i/100ms
       Rails 8 blank     1.263M i/100ms
Calculating -------------------------------------
          Fast Blank     37.612M (± 0.7%) i/s   (26.59 ns/i) -    188.972M in   5.024578s
  Fast ActiveSupport     32.878M (± 6.5%) i/s   (30.42 ns/i) -    165.933M in   5.069937s
       Rails 8 blank     12.096M (± 5.5%) i/s   (82.67 ns/i) -     60.606M in   5.026549s

Comparison:
          Fast Blank: 37611555.9 i/s
  Fast ActiveSupport: 32877643.8 i/s - 1.14x  slower
       Rails 8 blank: 12095700.2 i/s - 3.11x  slower

Interestingly, YJIT makes the Rails (pure-ruby) version fastest for empty strings but ~5× slower compared to fast_blank for 14-byte strings. Otherwise, the results are very similar for me as those posted above.