time can be used to determine execution times. The macro evaluates the form form and returns its value result. time also prints some timing and size data: user time, system time, elapsed time, and the total amount of heap space allocated in executing the form (in bytes).
The user time printed is the time used by LispWorks or any code that it calls in a dynamic library.
The system time printed is the time used in the operating system kernel when it is doing work on behalf of the LispWorks process.
The elapsed time printed is the time you could in principle measure with a stopwatch.
If LispWorks is 100% busy throughout the execution of the code, then user time + system time = elapsed time.
Each of the times is printed as:
The timing and size data covers all stack groups, not just the one that invokes time.
time itself uses a small, constant amount of heap space.time measures all threads, so to test accurately for consing in code you need to do:
(sys:with-other-threads-disabled (time code))
This is particularly important when using the LispWorks IDE. Do not use with-other-threads-disabled in your application code.
CL-USER 7 > (time (loop for i below 3000000
sum (sqrt i)))
Timing the evaluation of (LOOP FOR I BELOW 3000000 SUM (SQRT I))
User time = 0:01:04.187
System time = 0.062
Elapsed time = 0:01:07.297
Allocation = 4932022956 bytes
0 Page faults
Calls to %EVAL 72000048
3.4606518E9
extended-time
with-other-threads-disabled
with-unique-names
Guidance for control of the memory management system
LispWorks User Guide and Reference Manual - 20 Sep 2017