>>>>> "H" == H Yamamoto <ocean / m2.ccsnet.ne.jp> writes: H> I understand 1.8 is better. Because 1.8 frees unused heap slot? :-) Well, here the example given with 1.6.8 moulon% ./ruby -v b.rb ruby 1.6.8 (2002-12-24) [i686-linux] 178 check now 975698 148 149 149 149 b.rb:24:in `join': Interrupt from b.rb:24 moulon% and with 1.8.4 moulon% /usr/bin/ruby -v b.rb ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [i486-linux] 187 check now 853644 800159 800160 800161 800162 b.rb:24:in `join': Interrupt from b.rb:24 moulon% Guy Decoux