JPH04241637A - System for measuring number of executed program instruction - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and quickly measure the number of executed program instructions even when the content of the program is no known to the least. CONSTITUTION:An input device 1 performs inputting operations. A central processing unit 3 incorporates a branch instruction interrupting mechanism 30 which generates an internal interruption by holding a priority level, pre- branch address, and post-branch address before the first instruction is executed after branch by the execution of an branch instruction. A main storage device 4 stores a program 40 to be measured. A post-branch address storing section 5 stores post-branch addresses 51, 52,..., 5n corresponding to each priority level until the branch instruction is interrupted next. A section 6 for storing numbers of executed times by run sections stores numbers of instructions and numbers of executed times by run sections.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for measuring the performance of a program in an information processing system, and more particularly to a method for measuring the number of executed program instructions.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the number of executed instructions of a program, which is a standard for program performance, has been calculated on a desk while predicting the execution process by a professional, or measured using a hardware monitor.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] As mentioned above, when calculating on a desk while predicting the execution process of a program, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the contents of the program.
Furthermore, even those in charge who had a good understanding of the contents of the program required their own time. Other methods, such as measuring using a hardware monitor, require troublesome preparation for measurement, so software personnel generally do not use them at present.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] The method for measuring the number of executed program instructions of the present invention measures the execution priority level of the program including the branch instruction and the branch before the first instruction after the branch is executed. A branch instruction that generates an internal interrupt by holding a pre-branch address that indicates the address of the instruction itself and a post-branch address that indicates the branch destination address of the branch instruction, and that the internal interrupt can be generated for each of one or more of the priority levels. an interrupt means (30), a branch instruction interrupt mode setting/cancellation means (21) for starting and stopping the branch instruction interrupt means, and a post-branch address for storing the post-branch address in correspondence with the priority level. A recording means (5), and an instruction analysis that searches the program and sets a running section (23) focusing on the position of a branch instruction and the branch destination address of the branch instruction, and analyzes the number of instructions in the running section. means (22), and a pre-branch address notified from the branch instruction interrupt means every time a branch instruction interrupt occurs, and a post-branch address recording means that stores the pre-branch address and the post-branch address at the time of a branch instruction interrupt immediately before the branch instruction interrupt, A running section execution count adding means (24) that adds the number of executions to the running section included in the range indicated by the post-branch address corresponding to the priority level at the time of instruction interrupt; a number-of-execution-per-traveling section storage means (6) for storing a section and the number of instructions in the corresponding traveling section, as well as the number of executions per traveling section added by the number-of-executions-per-traveling adding means; The running section, the number of commands per running section, and the number of executions per running section stored by the execution number storage means are edited and outputted, and the number of commands executed per running section and the number of commands executed for each running section are calculated based on the stored information. The present invention is characterized by comprising measurement result editing/output means (25) that edits and outputs the measurement result while calculating the proportion of the entire program including the measurement result.

[0005]

Embodiments Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The method for measuring the number of executed program instructions shown in this figure includes an input device 1 on which input operations are performed, an input information analysis section 20, a control section 21, a command word analysis section 22, a running section setting section 23, and an execution number addition section 24. A program instruction execution count measuring device 2 including a measurement result editing output unit 25, and an internal memory that stores a priority level, a pre-branch address, and a post-branch address before the first instruction after a branch is executed by executing a branch instruction. The central processing unit 3 including the branch instruction interrupt mechanism 30 that generates an interrupt, the main storage device 4 that stores the measurement target program 40, and the post-branch addresses 51, 52, ..., 5n corresponding to each priority level are A post-branch address storage unit 5 that stores information until a branch instruction is interrupted; and an execution count storage unit 6 for each travel section that stores the number of instructions and the number of executions for each travel section.
and an output device 7 to which a measurement result list 70 is output.

The main storage device 4 stores a measurement target program 4.
0 exists, the number of executions is expressed as P0, the addresses of the branch instructions themselves are expressed as B1, B2, B3, B4, . . ., and the branch destination addresses of these branch instructions are expressed as P1, P2, P3, P4, .

The contents of the execution count storage unit 6 for each running section include the execution start address P0 of the measurement target program 40, the positions B1, B2, B3, B4, etc. of branch instructions, and the branch destinations P1, P.
2, P3, P4, . . . , a running section column storage area 60 that stores the number of instructions within a running section, and a running section instruction number storage area 61 that stores the number of instructions executed in each running section. and a storage area 62 for a string of execution times for each running section.

Next, the operation of the method for measuring the number of program instruction executions of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained. First, a travel section setting instruction for the measurement target program 40 is input from the input device 1 . As a result of analyzing the input content, the input information analysis unit 20 interprets the input as an instruction to set a travel section for the measurement target program 40 and notifies the control unit 21 of the result. This notification enters the instruction word analysis section 22 through the control section 21. With this notification, the instruction word analysis unit 22
0 execution start address P0 and branch instruction positions B1 and B2
, B3, B4,... and branch destinations P1, P2, P3, P4,...
A running section P0 to B1, B1+1,
P1-1, P1~B2-1, P2~B2, B2+1~B
3, B3+1~P3-1, P3~B4, B4+1~P4
-1, . Further, the execution number string storage area 62 for each traveling section is initialized to zero. Next, assuming that the priority level of the measurement target program 40 is 1, priority level number 1 is input from the input device 1. The input information analysis section 20 notifies the control section 21 of the input priority level number 1. Upon receiving this notification, the control unit 21 activates the branch instruction interrupt mechanism 30 by setting the priority level number 1 to the branch instruction interrupt mode. At the same time, the control unit 21 also initializes the post-branch address 51 corresponding to priority level number 1 in the post-branch address storage unit 5 to zero. Thereafter, when the measurement target program 40 is started on the main storage device 4 and the branch instruction of the measurement target program 40 is executed, the branch instruction interrupt mechanism 30 of the central processing unit 3
A branch instruction interrupt is generated at the branch destination address specified by the branch instruction, and this branch instruction interrupt is reported to the control unit 21 of the program instruction execution count measuring device 2. Based on this report, the control unit 21 determines the priority level number 1, the pre-branch address which is the address of the branch instruction itself that caused the branch instruction interrupt in the measurement target program 40, and the post-branch address which is the branch destination due to this instruction. You can know. Based on this reported priority level number 1, the control unit 21:
The contents of the post-branch address 51 corresponding to priority level number 1 in the post-branch address storage unit 5 can be extracted, and the extracted address and the pre-branch address at this branch instruction interrupt are sent to the execution count adding unit 24. and instructs addition of the number of executions for each travel section. Further, the post-branch address at this time is stored in the post-branch address 51 until the next branch instruction interrupt. Thereafter, the execution number adding unit 24 selects the traveling section included in the range of the two addresses notified by the control section 21 from the traveling section string storage area 60 of the execution number per traveling section storage section 6, Number of executions of the corresponding travel section (execution number column storage area 62 for each travel section)
Add only 1. At this time, since there may be one or more traveling sections included in the range of the two addresses notified by the control unit 21, the number of executions is added by 1 to each traveling section.

Note that the control unit 21 controls the post-branch address 51
At the time of the first branch instruction interrupt where is initialized to zero, the post-branch address notified from the branch instruction interrupt mechanism 30 is simply stored in the post-branch address 51, and no instruction to add is given to the execution count adding unit 24. . After performing the above operations, the control unit 21 instructs the branch instruction interrupt mechanism 30 to resume execution from the post-branch address in the measurement target program 40, and waits for the next branch instruction interrupt.

FIG. 2 shows an apparatus 2 for measuring the number of executed program instructions.
The addition operation of the number of executions for each running section is performed from the execution start address P0 of the measurement target program 40 to address P4.
FIG. 3 is a related diagram for specifically explaining the routines up to now as an example. Here, the routine from address P0 to address P4 of the measurement target program 40 is the running section P0 to B1, B1+1 to P1-1, P1 to P2-1,
2~B2, B2+1~B3, B3+1~P3-1, P3
~B4, B4+1~P4-1.

First, when control is passed to the execution start address P0 of the program to be measured 40 for operation, a branch instruction interrupt is generated by the branch instruction interrupt mechanism 30, and the control unit 21 of the program instruction execution count measuring device 2 is generated. ) is activated by a branch instruction interrupt. At this time, the program instruction execution number measuring device 2 (control unit 21)
Since 1 is initialized with zero, branch instruction interrupt mechanism 3
By simply storing the post-branch address P0 notified from 0 in the post-branch address 51, it instructs the branch instruction interrupt mechanism 30 to resume execution from the post-branch address P0, and waits for the next branch instruction interrupt.

Next, the first branch instruction at address B1 is executed, a branch instruction interrupt occurs at address P1, which is the branch destination, and the program instruction execution number measuring device 2 (execution number adding unit 24) calculates the branch instruction interrupt. The number of execution times storage unit 6 stores the running section for each running section, which is included in the range (from address P0 to address B1) between the pre-branch address B1 notified from the branching mechanism 30 and the address P0 stored in the post-branch address 51 at this time. (running section string storage area 60), and adding 1 to the number of executions of the corresponding driving section P0 to B1 (running section string storage area 61). The post-branch address P1 is stored in the post-branch address 51 until the next branch instruction interrupt.

The next branch instruction interrupt occurs when the branch instruction at address B2 is executed and occurs at address P2, which is the branch destination. The following description assumes that the program branches to P2, and in the second execution, the instruction at address B2+1 is executed because the branch condition does not match). At this time, P1 to B2 becomes the range, and this range includes the traveling section P1 to P2.
-1 and P2 to B2, and 1 is added to the number of executions for each travel section. Hereinafter, branch instruction interrupts occur at addresses P3 and P4 due to the execution of the branch instructions at addresses B3 and B4, respectively, and at this time, the execution number addition unit 24 of the program instruction execution number measuring device 2
) depending on the traveling section P1-B2, B2+1-B3, P3
The number of executions of ~B4 is incremented by 1.

[0015] At the time of a branch instruction interrupt, the branch instruction interrupt mechanism 30 notifies the address of the branch instruction itself and the branch destination address of the branch instruction, as well as the priority level number 1 (not shown in the figure) of the program to be measured 40. This priority level number 1 allows the post-branch address 51 to be selected.

First, the measurement is completed, and a branch instruction interrupt mode release command with priority level number 1 is input from the input device 1. The input information analysis unit 20 notifies the control unit 21 of the branch instruction interrupt mode release command for the input priority level number 1. Upon receiving this notification, the control unit 21 cancels the branch instruction interrupt mode of priority level number 1, stops the branch instruction interrupt mechanism 30, and edits and outputs the measurement results for priority level number 1. The editing output unit 25 is instructed. Upon receiving this instruction, the measurement result editing/output section 25 outputs a measurement result list 70 to the output device 7 based on the number-of-executions storage section 6 for each travel section. The measurement result list 70 is based on the information in addition to the contents of the running section column storage area 60, the number of instructions within a running section storage area 61, and the execution number string storage area 62 for each running section of the execution number storage unit 6 for each running section. The number of commands executed per traveling section and the proportion of the number of commands executed per traveling section to the entire program are calculated and edited and output.

Note that the post-branch address in the post-branch address storage unit 5 corresponds to the priority level number 1 (post-branch addresses 51, 52, . . . , 5n correspond to the priority level number).
Since it can be stored, it is clear that it is possible to measure not only the program to be measured running at priority level number 1 described above, but also the program to be measured running at a priority level other than number 1. Furthermore, it is possible not only to measure a certain priority level number alone, but also to simultaneously measure measurement target programs of two or more priority level numbers.

[0018]

As explained above, the present invention achieves the following effects by utilizing the branch instruction interrupt means and the instruction word analysis means.

*Since the measurement area (traveling section) is automatically set, measurement is simple and quick.

*Measurement can be performed without knowing the contents of the program at all.

*The time required for measurement is significantly reduced compared to the case of theoretical calculations.

*The measurement result list that is edited and output shows not only the total number of executed instructions, but also the number of executed instructions in the area (running section) in the program that you are particularly interested in, and the number of executed instructions in the entire program. The percentage is also output. If you are asked to improve the performance of a program, focus on areas with high load and make improvements. Therefore, this list of measurement results is very helpful.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a related diagram for explaining an operation of adding the number of executions for each traveling section, which is performed by the program instruction execution number measuring device in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Input device 2 Program instruction execution count measuring device 3 Central processing unit 4 Main storage device 5 Post-branch address storage unit 6 Execution count storage unit for each running section 7 Output device

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: Before the first instruction after a branch is executed by executing a branch instruction, the execution priority level of the program including the branch instruction, the pre-branch address indicating the address of the branch instruction itself, and the branch destination of the branch instruction. A branch instruction interrupt means that holds a post-branch address indicating an address and generates an internal interrupt, and the internal interrupt can be generated for each of one or more of the priority levels, and starts and stops the branch instruction interrupt means. Branch instruction interrupt mode settings for
a release means, a post-branch address storage means for storing the post-branch address in correspondence with the priority level, and a running section that searches within the program and focuses on the position of the branch instruction and the branch destination address of the branch instruction. instruction analysis means for analyzing the number of instructions within the running section, and a pre-branch address notified from the branch instruction interrupt means for each branch instruction interrupt, and a post-branch address recording means to determine the number of instructions in the branch instruction interrupt. A running section execution number adding means for adding the number of execution times to the running section that is stored at the time of the previous branch instruction interrupt and is included in the range indicated by the post-branch address corresponding to the priority level at the time of the branch instruction interrupt; Execution count storage means for each running section stores the running section set by the command analysis means and the number of instructions in the running section, as well as the number of executions for each running section added by the running section adding number of executions for each running section. Then, the traveling section, the number of commands per traveling section, and the number of executions per traveling section stored by the storage means for the number of executions per traveling section are edited and outputted, and the number of commands executed per traveling section and the number of commands for each traveling section are output based on the stored information. A method for measuring the number of program command executions, characterized by comprising a measurement result editing and outputting means for editing and outputting a ratio of the number of executions to the entire program including the running section. 2. The number-of-execution-per-traveling section storage unit includes a traveling section column storage area delimited by a program execution start address, a position of a branch instruction, and a branch destination, and a traveling section storing the number of instructions within a traveling section. 2. The method for measuring the number of executed program instructions according to claim 1, comprising a storage area for the number of instructions executed within a section, and a storage area for a number of executions per traveling section in which the number of executions per traveling section is cumulatively stored.