I'm still brushing the rust off my C. :) This one is 50% faster with only slight tweaks. This tight loop is *highly* sensitive to almost any change. BTW, going from -o2 to -o4 doubles speed.

// inc_c - http://perlmonks.org/?node_id=1128230
// 8.52 secs. for 16/32 count=601080390 -o2
// 3.16 secs. for 16/32 count=601080390 -o4

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>

#define N 16 // number of elements wanted
#define M 32 // place

static int place[N+1];
static int count = 0;

int
step(void)
  {
  int *p = place;

  for(int i = 0; i < N; i++, p++ )
    {
    if(*p < p[1] - 1)
      {
      ++*p;
      while( --i >= 0 ) *--p -= place[0];
      return 1;
      }
    }
  return 0;
  }

int
main(int argc, char **argv)
  {
  int i;
  int more = 1;

  for(i = 0; i < N; i++) place[i] = i;
  place[N] = M;

  while( more )
    {
    //for(i = 0; i < N; i++) printf(" %d", place[i]);
    //putchar('\n');
    count++;
    more = step();
    }

  printf("%d\n", count);

  exit(0);
  }
[download]

Yes. That now beats the A::C version by about 20% (6.5s v 8) on my system when compiled with /Ox. Thank you.

---

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". I'm with torvalds on this

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice. Agile (and TDD) debunked

Slightly faster. It's getting too silly, though. However, the step function is getting smaller due to better understanding of the problem.

// inc_c - http://perlmonks.org/?node_id=1128230
// 8.52 secs. for 16/32 count=601080390 -O2
// 3.08 secs. for 16/32 count=601080390 -O3

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>

#define N 16 // number of elements wanted
#define M 32 // place

static int place[N+1];
static int count = 0;

int
step(void)
  {
  int *p = place;

  for(int i = 0; i < N; *p++ = i++ )
    {
    if(*p < p[1] - 1)
      {
      ++*p;
      return 1;
      }
    }
  return 0;
  }

int
main(int argc, char **argv)
  {
  int i;
  int more = 1;

  for(i = 0; i < N; i++) place[i] = i;
  place[N] = M;

  while( more )
    {
    //for(i = 0; i < N; i++) printf(" %d", place[i]);
    //putchar('\n');
    count++;
    more = step();
    }

  printf("\ncount %d\n", count);

  exit(0);
  }
[download]

Thanks for the opportunity to scrape some rust off my C skills :)

I'm still tweaking it - there may be more to come :)