Poor mans pickle implementations benchmark

Gensim is a very cool python2, numpy-based vector space modelling (information retrieval) framework. It does the job in a straightforward way, and it has been a great project for me to learn python with because it uses some nice tricks in real life scenarios (like Generators) and is AFAICT elegantly coded. Sometimes I find it hard to believe how much functionality can be crammed in so few lines of (readable) code.

But anyway we're having some issues in it with cPickle (it breaks when saving large matrices, it breaks with some objects). For now I worked around it by using jsonpickle but I wonder how viable this alternative really is.

To give at least a crude idea of performance characteristics of different pickle methods, I wrote a very simple benchmark program - picklebench - to compare pickle, cPickle and jsonpickle. The script fills a dictionary which gets bigger and bigger, and for certain sizes of dictionary it is saved to, and loaded from disk again. We measure some metrics of each step. We continue until memory is exhausted.

limitations of this benchmark:

• effects of writing a new file, or overwriting existing file, and however the filesystem deals with that (efficiency, allocation of sectors on disk, etc) are ignored
• no explicit flushing or warming of Linux block cache, ignoring writeback caches. (but that should be okay: every write is treated the same way, and reads always benefit from warm block cache)
• I could ignore disk i/o by only doing serializing in memory, but that wouldn't be very realistic either, and speed is lower than sequential read/write speeds of my hard disk anyway
• other running processes are ignored. (but my pc was pretty much idle otherwise)
• all metrics are crude
• all single runs
• no garbage collection is being run. volatility of datastructures is completely ignored. Assumes that measuring the RSS difference provides useful information.
• Other than the obvious cPickle, I did not bother to look up if optimized implementations for some things exist (like json decoders)

You can easily run the program yourself, but here is the output I got, on my i3 540 @ 3.07GHz with 3GiB RAM.

Testing JsonPickle
== 1000 ==
Stored in 0.01s. file size 0.05 MB. Speed 6.56 MB/s. RSS taken 0.23 MB. (4.34 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.01s. Speed 9.30 MB/s. RSS taken 0.04 MB.  (0.71 MB per MB in file)
== 4000 ==
Stored in 0.03s. file size 0.21 MB. Speed 6.93 MB/s. RSS taken 0.45 MB. (2.16 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.02s. Speed 9.54 MB/s. RSS taken 0.47 MB.  (2.23 MB per MB in file)
== 16000 ==
Stored in 0.13s. file size 0.85 MB. Speed 6.80 MB/s. RSS taken 0.86 MB. (1.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.09s. Speed 9.55 MB/s. RSS taken 0.88 MB.  (1.04 MB per MB in file)
== 64000 ==
Stored in 0.50s. file size 3.44 MB. Speed 6.87 MB/s. RSS taken 4.02 MB. (1.17 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.36s. Speed 9.44 MB/s. RSS taken 2.52 MB.  (0.73 MB per MB in file)
== 256000 ==
Stored in 2.10s. file size 13.97 MB. Speed 6.64 MB/s. RSS taken 17.24 MB. (1.23 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 1.53s. Speed 9.15 MB/s. RSS taken 8.49 MB.  (0.61 MB per MB in file)
== 1024000 ==
Stored in 8.60s. file size 56.23 MB. Speed 6.54 MB/s. RSS taken 61.64 MB. (1.10 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 6.27s. Speed 8.97 MB/s. RSS taken 95.99 MB.  (1.71 MB per MB in file)
== 4096000 ==
Stored in 38.80s. file size 228.26 MB. Speed 5.88 MB/s. RSS taken 181.83 MB. (0.80 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 25.17s. Speed 9.07 MB/s. RSS taken 170.84 MB.  (0.75 MB per MB in file)
== 16384000 ==
Testing cPickle
Protocol 0
== 1000 ==
Stored in 0.01s. file size 0.01 MB. Speed 0.83 MB/s. RSS taken 0.05 MB. (5.95 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.00s. Speed 9.02 MB/s. RSS taken 0.05 MB.  (5.04 MB per MB in file)
== 4000 ==
Stored in 0.00s. file size 0.04 MB. Speed 8.69 MB/s. RSS taken 0.10 MB. (2.52 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.00s. Speed 15.43 MB/s. RSS taken 0.13 MB.  (3.26 MB per MB in file)
== 16000 ==
Stored in 0.01s. file size 0.17 MB. Speed 11.06 MB/s. RSS taken 0.13 MB. (0.79 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.01s. Speed 16.82 MB/s. RSS taken 0.10 MB.  (0.60 MB per MB in file)
== 64000 ==
Stored in 0.06s. file size 0.69 MB. Speed 12.43 MB/s. RSS taken 0.12 MB. (0.17 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.04s. Speed 17.25 MB/s. RSS taken 0.77 MB.  (1.11 MB per MB in file)
== 256000 ==
Stored in 0.22s. file size 2.96 MB. Speed 13.65 MB/s. RSS taken 0.18 MB. (0.06 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.17s. Speed 17.49 MB/s. RSS taken 3.09 MB.  (1.04 MB per MB in file)
== 1024000 ==
Stored in 0.88s. file size 12.20 MB. Speed 13.93 MB/s. RSS taken 0.16 MB. (0.01 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.69s. Speed 17.72 MB/s. RSS taken 12.38 MB.  (1.01 MB per MB in file)
== 4096000 ==
Stored in 3.52s. file size 52.14 MB. Speed 14.80 MB/s. RSS taken 0.05 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 2.84s. Speed 18.37 MB/s. RSS taken 49.55 MB.  (0.95 MB per MB in file)
== 16384000 ==
Stored in 12.68s. file size 218.27 MB. Speed 17.22 MB/s. RSS taken 0.19 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 11.59s. Speed 18.82 MB/s. RSS taken 198.20 MB.  (0.91 MB per MB in file)
Testing cPickle
Protocol 1
== 1000 ==
Stored in 0.00s. file size 0.00 MB. Speed 9.65 MB/s. RSS taken 0.05 MB. (11.10 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.00s. Speed 9.31 MB/s. RSS taken 0.06 MB.  (12.81 MB per MB in file)
== 4000 ==
Stored in 0.00s. file size 0.02 MB. Speed 10.95 MB/s. RSS taken 0.10 MB. (4.95 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.00s. Speed 11.15 MB/s. RSS taken 0.12 MB.  (6.19 MB per MB in file)
== 16000 ==
Stored in 0.02s. file size 0.08 MB. Speed 5.26 MB/s. RSS taken 0.13 MB. (1.64 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.01s. Speed 11.77 MB/s. RSS taken 0.09 MB.  (1.13 MB per MB in file)
== 64000 ==
Stored in 0.03s. file size 0.32 MB. Speed 12.60 MB/s. RSS taken 0.12 MB. (0.37 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.03s. Speed 11.48 MB/s. RSS taken 0.78 MB.  (2.43 MB per MB in file)
== 256000 ==
Stored in 0.10s. file size 1.66 MB. Speed 17.00 MB/s. RSS taken 0.18 MB. (0.11 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.11s. Speed 14.50 MB/s. RSS taken 3.10 MB.  (1.86 MB per MB in file)
== 1024000 ==
Stored in 0.40s. file size 7.04 MB. Speed 17.76 MB/s. RSS taken 0.16 MB. (0.02 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.45s. Speed 15.54 MB/s. RSS taken 12.39 MB.  (1.76 MB per MB in file)
== 4096000 ==
Stored in 1.59s. file size 28.55 MB. Speed 17.95 MB/s. RSS taken 0.05 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 1.88s. Speed 15.20 MB/s. RSS taken 49.55 MB.  (1.74 MB per MB in file)
== 16384000 ==
Stored in 6.23s. file size 114.59 MB. Speed 18.40 MB/s. RSS taken 0.19 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 7.18s. Speed 15.96 MB/s. RSS taken 198.21 MB.  (1.73 MB per MB in file)
Testing cPickle
Protocol 2
== 1000 ==
Stored in 0.00s. file size 0.00 MB. Speed 9.54 MB/s. RSS taken 0.05 MB. (11.10 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.00s. Speed 8.92 MB/s. RSS taken 0.06 MB.  (12.81 MB per MB in file)
== 4000 ==
Stored in 0.00s. file size 0.02 MB. Speed 13.25 MB/s. RSS taken 0.10 MB. (4.95 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.00s. Speed 11.39 MB/s. RSS taken 0.12 MB.  (6.19 MB per MB in file)
== 16000 ==
Stored in 0.01s. file size 0.08 MB. Speed 13.85 MB/s. RSS taken 0.13 MB. (1.64 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.01s. Speed 10.77 MB/s. RSS taken 0.09 MB.  (1.13 MB per MB in file)
== 64000 ==
Stored in 0.02s. file size 0.32 MB. Speed 13.99 MB/s. RSS taken 0.12 MB. (0.37 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.03s. Speed 11.45 MB/s. RSS taken 0.78 MB.  (2.43 MB per MB in file)
== 256000 ==
Stored in 0.10s. file size 1.66 MB. Speed 16.81 MB/s. RSS taken 0.18 MB. (0.11 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.12s. Speed 14.31 MB/s. RSS taken 3.10 MB.  (1.86 MB per MB in file)
== 1024000 ==
Stored in 0.37s. file size 7.04 MB. Speed 19.15 MB/s. RSS taken 0.16 MB. (0.02 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.45s. Speed 15.55 MB/s. RSS taken 12.39 MB.  (1.76 MB per MB in file)
== 4096000 ==
Stored in 1.58s. file size 28.55 MB. Speed 18.09 MB/s. RSS taken 0.05 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 1.83s. Speed 15.61 MB/s. RSS taken 49.55 MB.  (1.74 MB per MB in file)
== 16384000 ==
Stored in 6.02s. file size 114.59 MB. Speed 19.04 MB/s. RSS taken 0.19 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 7.32s. Speed 15.65 MB/s. RSS taken 198.21 MB.  (1.73 MB per MB in file)
Testing pickle
Protocol 0
== 1000 ==
Stored in 0.01s. file size 0.01 MB. Speed 1.17 MB/s. RSS taken 0.03 MB. (3.21 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.04s. Speed 0.20 MB/s. RSS taken 0.06 MB.  (6.41 MB per MB in file)
== 4000 ==
Stored in 0.02s. file size 0.04 MB. Speed 1.91 MB/s. RSS taken 0.09 MB. (2.42 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.02s. Speed 2.12 MB/s. RSS taken 0.12 MB.  (3.15 MB per MB in file)
== 16000 ==
Stored in 0.08s. file size 0.17 MB. Speed 2.00 MB/s. RSS taken 0.13 MB. (0.79 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.07s. Speed 2.27 MB/s. RSS taken 0.09 MB.  (0.55 MB per MB in file)
== 64000 ==
Stored in 0.33s. file size 0.69 MB. Speed 2.08 MB/s. RSS taken 0.12 MB. (0.18 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.29s. Speed 2.40 MB/s. RSS taken 0.77 MB.  (1.11 MB per MB in file)
== 256000 ==
Stored in 1.34s. file size 2.96 MB. Speed 2.21 MB/s. RSS taken 0.18 MB. (0.06 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 1.17s. Speed 2.53 MB/s. RSS taken 3.09 MB.  (1.04 MB per MB in file)
== 1024000 ==
Stored in 5.33s. file size 12.20 MB. Speed 2.29 MB/s. RSS taken 0.16 MB. (0.01 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 4.73s. Speed 2.58 MB/s. RSS taken 12.38 MB.  (1.01 MB per MB in file)
== 4096000 ==
Stored in 21.23s. file size 52.14 MB. Speed 2.46 MB/s. RSS taken 0.05 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 18.63s. Speed 2.80 MB/s. RSS taken 49.55 MB.  (0.95 MB per MB in file)
== 16384000 ==
Stored in 85.09s. file size 218.27 MB. Speed 2.57 MB/s. RSS taken 0.19 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 74.60s. Speed 2.93 MB/s. RSS taken 198.20 MB.  (0.91 MB per MB in file)
Testing pickle
Protocol 1
== 1000 ==
Stored in 0.01s. file size 0.00 MB. Speed 0.80 MB/s. RSS taken 0.06 MB. (11.96 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.00s. Speed 1.56 MB/s. RSS taken 0.07 MB.  (14.52 MB per MB in file)
== 4000 ==
Stored in 0.02s. file size 0.02 MB. Speed 0.84 MB/s. RSS taken 0.10 MB. (4.95 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.01s. Speed 1.65 MB/s. RSS taken 0.13 MB.  (6.61 MB per MB in file)
== 16000 ==
Stored in 0.09s. file size 0.08 MB. Speed 0.85 MB/s. RSS taken 0.13 MB. (1.64 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.05s. Speed 1.68 MB/s. RSS taken 0.09 MB.  (1.13 MB per MB in file)
== 64000 ==
Stored in 0.38s. file size 0.32 MB. Speed 0.85 MB/s. RSS taken 0.10 MB. (0.32 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.19s. Speed 1.67 MB/s. RSS taken 0.80 MB.  (2.51 MB per MB in file)
== 256000 ==
Stored in 1.49s. file size 1.66 MB. Speed 1.11 MB/s. RSS taken 0.19 MB. (0.11 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.75s. Speed 2.21 MB/s. RSS taken 3.13 MB.  (1.88 MB per MB in file)
== 1024000 ==
Stored in 6.11s. file size 7.04 MB. Speed 1.15 MB/s. RSS taken 0.16 MB. (0.02 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 2.99s. Speed 2.35 MB/s. RSS taken 12.45 MB.  (1.77 MB per MB in file)
== 4096000 ==
Stored in 24.40s. file size 28.55 MB. Speed 1.17 MB/s. RSS taken 0.06 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 11.97s. Speed 2.39 MB/s. RSS taken 49.74 MB.  (1.74 MB per MB in file)
== 16384000 ==
Stored in 97.62s. file size 114.59 MB. Speed 1.17 MB/s. RSS taken 0.19 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 48.04s. Speed 2.39 MB/s. RSS taken 198.88 MB.  (1.74 MB per MB in file)
Testing pickle
Protocol 2
== 1000 ==
Stored in 0.01s. file size 0.00 MB. Speed 0.78 MB/s. RSS taken 0.06 MB. (11.96 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.00s. Speed 1.57 MB/s. RSS taken 0.07 MB.  (14.52 MB per MB in file)
== 4000 ==
Stored in 0.02s. file size 0.02 MB. Speed 0.85 MB/s. RSS taken 0.10 MB. (4.95 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.01s. Speed 1.52 MB/s. RSS taken 0.13 MB.  (6.60 MB per MB in file)
== 16000 ==
Stored in 0.09s. file size 0.08 MB. Speed 0.85 MB/s. RSS taken 0.13 MB. (1.64 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.05s. Speed 1.66 MB/s. RSS taken 0.09 MB.  (1.18 MB per MB in file)
== 64000 ==
Stored in 0.38s. file size 0.32 MB. Speed 0.85 MB/s. RSS taken 0.10 MB. (0.31 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.19s. Speed 1.65 MB/s. RSS taken 0.80 MB.  (2.51 MB per MB in file)
== 256000 ==
Stored in 1.52s. file size 1.66 MB. Speed 1.09 MB/s. RSS taken 0.19 MB. (0.11 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 0.76s. Speed 2.18 MB/s. RSS taken 3.13 MB.  (1.88 MB per MB in file)
== 1024000 ==
Stored in 6.19s. file size 7.04 MB. Speed 1.14 MB/s. RSS taken 0.16 MB. (0.02 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 3.01s. Speed 2.34 MB/s. RSS taken 12.45 MB.  (1.77 MB per MB in file)
== 4096000 ==
Stored in 24.60s. file size 28.55 MB. Speed 1.16 MB/s. RSS taken 0.06 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 12.06s. Speed 2.37 MB/s. RSS taken 49.74 MB.  (1.74 MB per MB in file)
== 16384000 ==
Stored in 98.38s. file size 114.59 MB. Speed 1.16 MB/s. RSS taken 0.19 MB. (0.00 MB per MB in file)
Loaded in 47.89s. Speed 2.39 MB/s. RSS taken 198.88 MB.  (1.74 MB per MB in file)

Paraphrased:

• JsonPickle needs more RSS then pickle/cPickle, and runs out of memory sooner. all pickle/cPickle runs need the same RSS
• Protocol 1/2 need the same amount of diskspace, protocol 0 needs about the double, JsonPickle about 8 times more
• Protocol 1/2 are as fast, protocol 0 is slower. cPickle is speed king. Jsonpickle is slow

Conclusion:

• Use cPickle or pickle, unless they are broken for your use case(s)
• Consider persisting only your data in appropriate formats (textfile, database, ...). Often you don't really need to persist entire objects. In the case of Gensim, we can also work with numpy's dataformat.
• If you like json, or want a very simple workaround for cPickle/pickle brokenness, and you cannot use a more appropriate format (see above) consider jsonpickle