US 6,189,142 B1 · Visual program runtime performance analysis

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program for providing runtime performance analysis in a visual programming environment. A performance data collection technique for visual programming is defined, which accounts for the specialized nature of visual programming, and the analysis is based on this collected data. The performance data is expressed in terms of elements familiar to the visual programmer, as opposed to using a source code approach. In a preferred embodiment, these elements comprise events, actions, connections, and attributes. The code implementing a visual program is instrumented according to this performance data collection technique, and performance information is gathered as the instrumented program executes. Preferably, the information gathered comprises execution counts and elapsed time per element.

Claims18

Dependent claims

In a computing system having a capability for component-based visual programming, computer readable code readable by said system for providing runtime performance analysis, comprising:

a subprocess for providing one or more component-based, visually-constructed programs;
a subprocess for instrumenting a selected one of said visually-constructed programs in order to collect runtime performance data, further comprising:
a subprocess for locating one or more elements of interest in said selected visually-constructed program, wherein said elements comprise instances of features of said selected visually-constructed program, said features comprising one more of:
(1) events to be signaled by components, (2) actions to be performed by components, (3) attributes of components, and (4) connections to be fired;
and
a subprocess for adding a plurality of code hooks to said selected visually-constructed program for each of said located elements;
and
a subprocess for gathering performance information for said selected visually-constructed program during runtime, using said instrumented program, further comprising:
a subprocess for executing one or more benchmarks against said instrumented program;
and
a subprocess for logging an entry upon detection of any of said code hooks during operation of said subprocess for executing.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Visual program runtime performance analysis

Life of this patent

Visual program runtime performance analysis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18