CPUprofiler

CPUprofiler is a software tool used to measure and analyze the CPU usage of applications during execution. By capturing how much time the processor spends in different functions, threads, and code paths, it helps developers identify bottlenecks, hot spots, and inefficiencies. CPUprofiler can operate through instrumentation, which injects measurement code into the program, or through sampling, which periodically records the program state with lower overhead. Some implementations also support dynamic tracing to observe CPU activity without modifying source code.

Platforms and languages: CPUprofiler targets native applications on major desktop and server platforms and often provides integrations for languages such as C/C++, Java, and Python. Data collected may include call graphs, flame graphs, and CPU time distributions, and is typically presented in a GUI or exported as reports. Many tools offer command-line interfaces, online dashboards, and IDE integrations to fit into existing development workflows.

Usage and limitations: Profiling introduces overhead and can affect timing, so CPUprofiler is usually used with representative workloads and in controlled environments or using sampling modes that balance detail and performance impact. Reliable results require repeatable runs and careful interpretation of data, since optimization targets may shift with compiler optimizations and parallel execution.

History and scope: The name CPUprofiler may refer to several separate products and open-source projects implementing similar functionality. While features vary, most tools share core capabilities such as CPU time measurement, call-path analysis, thread activity tracking, and export of profiling data for diagnostics and optimization.