Performance Analysis

In program performance analysis, what is a hotspot?

  1. AThe hottest location on a chip
  2. BA place where wireless LAN is available
  3. CA small part of the code that consumes most of the execution time
Show answer and explanation

Answer: C. A small part of the code that consumes most of the execution time

In many programs, loops or functions making up a few percent of the code consume most of the execution time. These are called hotspots. Finding them with a profiler and concentrating algorithmic and memory-usage improvements there yields large gains for little effort. Conversely, optimizing rarely executed code barely speeds up the whole.

  • A. This question concerns programs.
  • B. It differs from a Wi-Fi hotspot.
  • C. Correct. Improving it is most effective.
Practice this topic Back to topic

More Performance Analysis questions

  1. How is a flame graph, used to present profiling results, read?
  2. Which is an example of what CPU performance counters (the PMU) can count?
  3. Performance counters show a program's IPC is very low at 0.3, with many last-level cache misses. Which pairs the likely situation with a remedy?
  4. Performance counters reveal very frequent branch mispredictions. Which is a suitable remedy?
  5. In top-down microarchitecture analysis using performance counters, which are the major categories into which CPU issue slots are divided?