AOC 2023

My goal at the outset of Advent of Code 2023 was to figure out good workflows for me to prototype solutions in Python, then convert them to Rust and measure performance benchmarks. I had one stretch goal of learning how to incorporate pyo3 and maturin to create Python bindings to the pure Rust solutions. A second stretch goal was to learn how to use the Rust solutions in WebAssembly.

After several iterations on directory structure and layout, I think I have found a process I like.

1. Prototype in Python

   1. Begin solving the "demo" problem for each Day/Part in a Jupyter Notebook (./notebooks/python/01-1.ipynb)
   2. Move functions and classes used between parts into a flat file (./python/aoc_2023/day01.py)
   3. Create a flat file for printing out answer and timing (./python/bin/01-1.py)
   4. Run code (poetry run python bin/01-1.py)

2. Convert to Rust

   1. Rewrite Python functions/classes in Rust (./rust/src/day01.rs)
   2. Create answer and timing script (./rust/src/bin/01-1.rs)
   3. Run code (cargo run --bin 01-1 --release)

3. Python bindings to Rust

   1. Create pyo3 bindings to pure Rust code (./rust-pyo3/src/day01.rs)
   2. Create Python stub files for editor support (./rust-pyo3/aoc_2023_pyo3/day01.pyi)
   3. Copy/paste pure Python answer and timing code, only changing the import from aoc_2023 to aoc_2023_pyo3 (./rust-pyo3/bin/01-1.py)
   4. Create Python wheel (poetry run maturin develop --release)
   5. Run code (poetry run python bin/01-1.py)

4. WASM bindings to Rust

   1. Pull in aoc_2023 crate and copy/paste solution logic into a function (./rust-wasm/src/day01.rs)
   2. Add the day/part solution functions to a single solve function wrapped with #[wasm-bindgen] (./rust-wasm/src/lib.rs)
   3. Run wasm-pack build --target web --release to create ./rust-wasm/pkg directory
   4. Update ./rust-wasm/index.html to add the appropriate dropdowns / radio buttons, that file contains the javascript entrypoint to call the wasm functions
   5. Test by serving out files python -m http.server
   6. Commit and push to Github, let CI build kafonek.github.io/aoc_2023 page

Timings

The below times are recorded from running on my desktop, and not averaged over multiple executions. Treat them with a grain of salt.

• Python numbers: cd python && poetry run python bin/<day-part>.py
• Rust numbers: cd rust && cargo run --bin <day-part> --release
• Pyo3 numbers: cd rust-pyo3 && maturin develop --release && poetry run python bin/<day-part>.py

Day	Part	Python	Rust	Pyo3
1	1	850 µs	150 µs	335 µs
1	2	3.9 ms	650 µs	870 µs
2	1	890 µs	100 µs	170 µs
2	2	1.05 ms	100 µs	165 µs
3	1	14 ms	NA (gridthings-rs WIP)	NA (gridthings-rs WIP)
3	2	14 ms	NA (gridthings-rs WIP)	NA (gridthings-rs WIP)
4	1	1.05 ms	150 µs	220 µs
4	2	1.15 ms	165 µs	330 µs
5	1	358 µs	45 µs	90 µs
5	2	NA (timeout)	28s	NA (timeout)
6	1	55 µs	6 µs	50 µs
6	2	4.17 s	74 ms	74 ms
7	1	7.5 ms	375 µs	900 µs
7	2	7.5 ms	420 µs	930 µs