The fastest sorting algorithm
Radix sort is older than the computer yet quicker than quick sort. Why aren’t we all using it?
Check out https://80000hours.org/polylog for advice on how to choose an impactful career.
100k subscribers celebration livestream!! It will start 2 September 2025, 19:00 CEST. We’ll do a Q&A, an algorithm tier list, and small coding games where you can join in. Save the date!
Patreon: / polylog
Blog post: https://vaclavrozhon.github.io/polylo...
Code: https://github.com/polylog-cs/radix-sort
Corrections
09:40 the right punch card is here: https://vaclavrozhon.github.io/polylo...
Machines from technikum29
IBM O83 sorter: https://technikum29.de/en/computer/pu...
Player piano: https://technikum29.de/en/miscellaneo...
Credits
Richard Hladík: Script editor, animator. Site: https://rihl.uralyx.cz/
Tomáš Sláma: Narrator (museum scene), script editor, animator. YT channel: / @ytoms
Václav Rozhoň: Writer, animator. Blog: https://vasekrozhon.wordpress.com/
Václav Volhejn: Narrator, animator, script editor, video editor. YT channel: / @vvolhejn
Thank you to all our beta testers for their feedback: the KSP gang, Carmen Bach.
Thank you to Technikum29 for letting us play with their amazing punch card sorter.
Animations: Motion Canvas, a TypeScript library https://motioncanvas.io/
Music: From the Bodytonics album by Blue Dot Sessions
Obama sort video: • Barack Obama - Computer Science Question
If you wonder why Obama knew bubblesort -- John McCain got the same question a few months earlier, so this was likely a diligent preparation of his team.
0:00 Intro
1:12 100k subs celebration livestream
1:29 Bucket sort
3:18 Radix sort, first attempt
4:42 Radix sort, second attempt
7:10 But is it fast?
8:57 Punch card sorter from 1958
10:45 Why isn’t everyone using it?
11:30 Floating point trick
14:30 In conclusion
15:38 80,000 Hours
16:45 Thanks