I find that fast, flexible, stable sort has some important advantages over the GRT technique...

I'm confused. (And so...?)     The approach described in the linked node seems to me to be the GRT strategy exactly: "... using the [Perl] sort function with packed sortkeys and without a sortsub." I've also seen this described as the "decorate-sort-undecorate pattern" and I'm sure there are a few other descriptions around, especially since GR apparently weren't the first to describe the GRT. In any event, can you discuss how the approach of fast, flexible, stable sort differs from 'classic' GRT?

Update: (Previous to tye's response below.) Well, sometimes reading a bit more helps dispell confusion. On closer inspection, it seems the linked node describes a technique of stabilizing an unstable fixed-field (No – doesn't have to be fixed-field!) sort; it doesn't directly bear upon GRT per se. Am I closer to the mark here?

In reply to Re^2: perl ST sort performance issue for large file? (>GRT) by AnomalousMonk
in thread perl ST sort performance issue for large file? by rkshyam

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