require 'benchmark/ips' require File.expand_path("../../config/environment", __FILE__) conn = ActiveRecord::Base.connection.raw_connection Benchmark.ips do |b| b.report("simple") do User.first.name end b.report("simple with select") do User.select("name").first.name end b.report("pluck with first") do User.pluck(:name).first end b.report("pluck with limit") do User.limit(1).pluck(:name).first end b.report("raw") do conn.exec("SELECT name FROM users LIMIT 1").getvalue(0, 0) end end