Re^3: best strategy

I hate to say this!. But if as you say, your job is dependant upon your solution to this project, I seriously suggest that you seek help from a local mentor with access to the code, data and hardware.

Everything about the code you've posted,

from that you are timing sorts, and identical external commands which will take exactly the same time,regardless of whether they are a part of a forked or threaded solution.
to the way you lay out your code.
to your use of C coding idioms rather than Perl idioms.

Suggest to me that you do not have the experience to tackling a project of this nature when your job is on the line as a result. I seriously wish you the very best of luck, but you need more help than can reasonably be provided through a forum such as this.

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".

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

"Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."

Comment on Re^3: best strategy

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Re^4: best strategy by Zen (Deacon) on Aug 25, 2008 at 14:36 UTC
BrowserUK is correct on all counts except one. Everyone has to learn the first time. Get a small job manager set up first, learn, expand.	[reply]
Re^5: best strategy by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Aug 25, 2008 at 14:48 UTC
Everyone has to learn the first time. True. But doing it under the pressure of 6.3 I have been told by my Lead)(i have to make it and make it good else i would be kicked out :-)) is neither conducive to learning nor fair. 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". In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice. "Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."	[reply]
Re^6: best strategy by Gavin (Archbishop) on Aug 25, 2008 at 17:36 UTC
"I have been told by my Lead, I have to make it and make it good else I would be kicked out". Strikes me that you have been given an impossible task given your experience in Perl and the time frame you have been allotted. I have seen this before it's a management ploy to to give you a task that they know you stand very little chance of completing, so that you can be removed by default. Should you manage to complete the task next time you will be given an even more difficult one. I think I would be asking myself do I really want this job, do I need the pressure and hassle perhaps you should get out now. Good luck whatever, you've your work cut out.	[reply]
Re^7: best strategy by LesleyB (Friar) on Aug 26, 2008 at 12:08 UTC