Python to beat Perl

I need to evaluate whether Python is faster than Perl (for my applications). I provide the Perl code, a sample data set, and the corresponding output. You are to write an equivalent Python program that produces the same output. I will then run your Python program against the full data set, confirm that it gets the same answer, and then see which one is faster. The following files are attached: [login to view URL] [login to view URL] [login to view URL] [login to view URL] [login to view URL] [login to view URL] Run the program this way: "[login to view URL] -verbose >[login to view URL]" It reads input*.[login to view URL], writes track*.gz and also to stdout which is redirected to myoutput.txt. If -verbose isn't specified, then the output to stdout doesn't happen. ## Deliverables 1) Complete and fully-functional working program (source code) of all work done. 2) Deliverables must be in ready-to-run condition. 3) All deliverables will be considered "work made for hire" under U.S. Copyright law. Buyer will receive exclusive and complete copyrights to all work purchased. (No GPL, GNU, 3rd party components, etc. ## Platform The program is to run in Linux. You may develop under Windows if you prefer, as long as you are aware of the line termination differences. I don't want to see any \r in the output. I am not concerned that the details be identical. For example, feel free to use --verbose rather than -verbose.