From 74cb6b07abe812a9ec5d721c7890451a59ac26c3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: pederbe <peder.bergan@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2026 18:16:30 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Clarify reference comparisons when sorting by command

---
 src/benchmark/scheduler.rs | 20 +++++++++++++++++++-
 tests/integration_tests.rs | 36 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 55 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/src/benchmark/scheduler.rs b/src/benchmark/scheduler.rs
index 242dd0e7d..32510e77b 100644
--- a/src/benchmark/scheduler.rs
+++ b/src/benchmark/scheduler.rs
@@ -125,8 +125,21 @@ impl<'a> Scheduler<'a> {
                     println!("{}", "Relative speed comparison".bold());
 
                     for item in annotated_results {
+                        let comparison = if self.options.reference_command.is_some() {
+                            if item.is_reference {
+                                "reference"
+                            } else {
+                                match item.relative_ordering {
+                                    Ordering::Less => "times faster than reference",
+                                    Ordering::Greater => "times slower than reference",
+                                    Ordering::Equal => "as fast as reference",
+                                }
+                            }
+                        } else {
+                            ""
+                        };
                         println!(
-                            "  {}{}  {}",
+                            "  {}{}  {}{}",
                             format!("{:10.2}", item.relative_speed).bold().green(),
                             if item.is_reference {
                                 "        ".into()
@@ -135,6 +148,11 @@ impl<'a> Scheduler<'a> {
                             } else {
                                 "        ".into()
                             },
+                            if comparison.is_empty() {
+                                String::new()
+                            } else {
+                                format!("{comparison:28}  ")
+                            },
                             &item.result.command_with_unused_parameters,
                         );
                     }
diff --git a/tests/integration_tests.rs b/tests/integration_tests.rs
index 2de3a5049..c43c7e144 100644
--- a/tests/integration_tests.rs
+++ b/tests/integration_tests.rs
@@ -583,6 +583,42 @@ fn shows_reference_name() {
         .stdout(predicate::str::contains("Benchmark 1: refabc123"));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn command_sorted_comparison_labels_reference_and_direction() {
+    for runs in ["1", "2"] {
+        let output = hyperfine_debug()
+            .args(["--runs", runs, "--sort=command"])
+            .args(["--reference=sleep 2", "--reference-name=baseline"])
+            .args([
+                "--command-name=slower",
+                "--command-name=faster",
+                "--command-name=equal",
+            ])
+            .args(["sleep 3", "sleep 1", "sleep 2"])
+            .assert()
+            .success()
+            .get_output()
+            .stdout
+            .clone();
+        let output = String::from_utf8(output).unwrap();
+        let comparison = output.split("Relative speed comparison\n").nth(1).unwrap();
+        let lines: Vec<_> = comparison
+            .lines()
+            .map(|line| line.split_whitespace().collect::<Vec<_>>().join(" "))
+            .collect();
+        let uncertainty = if runs == "2" { " ± 0.00" } else { "" };
+        assert_eq!(
+            lines,
+            vec![
+                "1.00 reference baseline".to_string(),
+                format!("1.50{uncertainty} times slower than reference slower"),
+                format!("2.00{uncertainty} times faster than reference faster"),
+                format!("1.00{uncertainty} as fast as reference equal"),
+            ]
+        );
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn performs_all_benchmarks_in_parameter_scan() {
     hyperfine_debug()