[Nottingham] Time

[Joshua Lock]

Ok, so I'm trying to use time for some performance metrics and while  
it's quite possible to use the output to work out what performs more  
efficiently it'd be nicer if I actually understood the difference  
between the three different time outputs?

Can anyone help me out? I've read the man page and I'm fully aware  
that real is the actual amount of time but the page is a little vague  
on what user and system actually measure?
An initial guess is that system measures things like disk i/o. Which  
would explain why after the first of 5 consecutive runs it's consistent.

Anyone care to help me out?

Many thanks!

- J

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Joshua Lock