Using languages for capture, analysis and display of performance information for parallel and distributed applications

A graphical performance display tool can offer insights into the nature of a program´s performance that would be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to achieve with a traditional textual view of performance activity. Two languages with which programmers can specify the collection and display of performance information about parallel and distributed application programs are discussed. It is demonstrated that visual environments for program information display may be developed within a uniform conceptual framework. The display language allows the user to create displays tailored for viewing the performance of various monitored application components. The next step is to use this monitored information as input to a variety of user-specified performance models