[rules-users] Java code Vs Drools

I have been evaluating the rule engine (ie Drools 4.0.4). I have created an application which has about 20 rules . I insert about 500 arraylists into the working memory and each arraylist contains about 4 objects. The rule engine picks the object that is the best match from the arraylist and stores it . This processing takes about 0.953 secs . Now this very same scenario I have implemented in using java code (if ..else)...it takes about 0.016secs . I was expecting the rule engine to give a better performance. Considering the use of alpha node caching and other factors of the rete algorithm. This is how one of the rules look in the rule file : rule "P1 110" salience 1 activation-group "1" when PriorityType( pricetype == "10,20,30,40,110" ) list :ArrayList( ) t:TlbObjectAttributeData( lngAttrTypeId == 110 ) from list then result.add(t); end Am I doing something wrong or this application is not harnessing the pluses of the rule engine . If so can you please tell me which kind of application should I build to highlight the performance of a rule engine . Appreciate it Regards Harsh Jetly SOA Center of Excellence ______________________________________________________________________