Execution flow shape compression for aggregate data reporting in an application manager

A computer-implemented method for monitoring execution flows, comprising:

• observing a sequence of software components which are invoked for an execution flow at a computer system;
• choosing different ones of the software components as potential loop start components, and testing whether the chosen software components are actually loop start components, to identify loops in the sequence of software components;
• and
• for each identified loop, collapsing multiple iterations to a single iteration.

An apparatus for monitoring execution flows, comprising:

• at least one storage device;
• and
• at least one processor in communication with the at least one storage device, the at least one processor performing a method comprising:
• observing a plurality of execution flows at one or more computer systems;
• compressing data representing at least one of the execution flows;
• and
• defining a plurality of execution flow shapes based on the observing and the compressing.

At least one processor readable storage device having processor readable code embodied thereon for programming at least one processor to perform a method for monitoring execution flows, the method comprising:

• observing a plurality of execution flows at one or more computer systems;
• compressing data representing at least one of the execution flows;
• and
• defining a plurality of execution flow shapes based on the observing and the compressing.