local function v51_unpack(t)
    return table.remove(t, 1), unpack(t)
end

local function try(fnc, n, ...)
    local start = os.clock()
    for _ = 1, n do
        fnc(...)
    end
    print(os.clock()-start)
end

local unpack = table.unpack or v51_unpack

for i = 1, 8 do
    local values = {}
    local n = 2^i
    print(("Number of elements: %i"):format(n))
    for j =1, n*2 do
        values[#values+1] = j
    end
    n = 2^22 / n
    print(("Number of iterations: %i"):format(n))

    print("---- STARTING TEST ----")

    io.write "numeric for: "
    try(function(...)
        local args = {...}
        for j = 1, #args do
            local _ = args[j]
        end
    end, n, unpack(values))

    io.write "ipairs{...}: "
    try(function(...)
        local args = {...}
        for _, value in ipairs(args) do
            local _ = value
        end
    end, n, unpack(values))

    io.write "select     : "
    try(function(...)
        for j = 1,select("#",...) do
            local _ = select(j,...)
        end
    end, n, unpack(values))

    ---[[
    io.write "combination: "
    try(function(...)
        local n_args = select("#",...)
        if n_args <= 16 then
            for j = 1, n_args do
                local _ = select(j,...)
            end
        else
            local args = {...}
            for _, value in ipairs(args) do
                local _ = value
            end
        end
    end, n, unpack(values))
    --]]
    print()
end