Making `wc` 20x faster with parallel state machines

230 · aarol.dev · July 20, 2026, 7:19 p.m.
Summary
This post explains how the `wc2` implementation of the Unix `wc` command achieves significant speed improvements through the use of parallel state machines. The author provides insights into the underlying mechanism of how `wc2` works, filling the gaps left in the original documentation and offering a detailed understanding of the performance enhancements.