9.9 CHUD Tools

In addition to the tools listed in the previous section, a set of performance and optimization tools, bundled as the Computer Hardware Understanding Development Tools (CHUD), is available on the Xcode CD as an optional installation. You can also download the latest version from ftp://ftp.apple.com/developer/Tool_Chest/Testing_ _Debugging/Performance_tools/ .

CHUD tools are used to configure and display the performance monitor counters provided on Apple systems. These performance monitors record events such as cache misses, page faults, and other performance issues. The list provides information on a few of the tools provided with the CHUD collection. For more details see http://developer.apple.com/tools/performance/.

Shark

Provides instruction-level profiling of execution time of a program, using statistical sampling. Advice on optimization is also provided. (A command-line version, /usr/bin/shark , is also provided.)

Monster

Provides hardware- related performance measurements and displays the results in a spreadsheet format. (A command-line version, /usr/bin/monster , is also provided.)

Saturn

Provides exact (as opposed to statistical) profiling at the function level. For example, it reports how many times a given function is called. Results are represented in graphical format.

CacheBasher

Analyzes cache performance.

Reggie SE

Analyzes and modifies CPU and PCI configuration registers.

Skidmarks GT

Measures processor performance, specifically , integer, floating-point, and vector performance.

Amber

Command-line tool for instruction-level trace of execution threads.

acid

Command-line tool used to analyze traces provided by Amber.

SimG5

Command-line tool that simulates the G5 processor. You can use this cycle-accurate simulator to run through a trace file generated by Amber.

SimG4

Command-line tool that simulates the G4 processor. You can use this cycle-accurate simulator to run through a trace file generated by Amber.

A CHUD framework (/System/Library/Frameworks/CHUD.framework ) that enables you to write your own performance tools (among other things) is also provided.