GNU Parallel, where have you been all my life? (alexplescan.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the author's discovery of GNU Parallel, a tool that enables parallel execution of commands, and how it improved their workflow. The author used GNU Parallel to run end-to-end tests in parallel, significantly reducing the execution time. The article also highlights the features and options of GNU Parallel, such as controlling concurrency, capturing output, and exploring further capabilities. The author recommends the tool and its accompanying book for those interested in learning more.

Main themes

• GNU Parallel
• parallel execution
• workflow efficiency
• xargs alternative
• remote execution
• job management
• POSIX compliance
• portability and usability

What commenters say

• GNU Parallel is a powerful tool that can significantly improve workflow efficiency by executing commands in parallel.
• Some commenters argue that xargs can be a suitable alternative to GNU Parallel, but others point out its limitations, such as lack of support for parallelism on some systems.
• The use of GNU Parallel can be beneficial for tasks that require remote execution, file transfer, and job management, but may require additional setup and installation.
• Others prefer alternative tools, such as rush, which executes everything as a bash shell, over GNU Parallel.
• The choice between GNU Parallel and xargs depends on specific use cases and requirements, with some preferring the former for its additional features and others preferring the latter for its POSIX compliance.
• Some commenters appreciate the ability to embed GNU Parallel in a shell script, making it easily portable and usable without installation.
• The discussion highlights the importance of considering factors such as performance, compatibility, and ease of use when choosing a parallel execution tool.