Javascript: Pre-version of Mozilla Firefox holds up against Google Chrome
Google touts its Javascript engine version 8, among other things, as setting new speed records for its Chrome browser. Linux Magazine found during a benchmark test that the next Firefox generation can keep up with it.
As Javascript expert John Resig of the Mozilla Corporation informs us in his blog, Mozilla developers can currently benefit from its new homegrown script engine. Known by its codename TraceMonkey, it supposedly leaves the previous SpiderMonkey engine in the dust through its Just In Time (JIT) compiling to native code in terms of processing JavaScript code.
We used a small JavaScript benchmark, SunSpider 0.9 from the WebKit team, to test Google’s Chrome beta against the newest nightly build of the Firefox 3.1 in development, code name Minefield. The JIT compilation was activated with JavaScript variable javascript.options.jit.content. For lack of a workable Linux version of the Chrome browser (installation attempts under Wine ended within a second), Windows Vista was used instead, with an Intel Core2 dual processor of 2.20 GHz and 4 GB RAM.
The editorial staff ran a benchmark of a nightly Firefox 3.l “Minefield” build against Google Chrome.
The result: Both JavaScript engines ran in a virtual tie, with the Google product slightly ahead, perhaps faster by 15 percent, not a substantial Chrome lead, considering the margin of error inherent in the SunSpider test. Significant differences emerged, however, in performing certain tasks: Chrome did better with 3D and crypto tasks; Firefox with strings, regex, and math. The German sister publication Linux Magazin Online provides the test results as a download.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
Danish Ministry of Digital Affairs Transitions to Linux
Another major organization has decided to kick Microsoft Windows and Office to the curb in favor of Linux.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.
Google
Anyway, it is good news that Firefox will have parity in Javascript engine speed.
Good stuff