Function profiling for embedded software by utilizing QEMU and analyzer tool

Function profiling is crucial for optimized embedded software which needs to have resource constraint, low level power consumption and real-time ability. In this work, we provide a fast and reliable solution by utilizing an instruction set simulator named QEMU and creating an analyzer tool. We developed a tracing module inside the simulator to trace execution information of software in run-time and record it in a log file. Our implementation takes advantages of the dynamic binary translation of QEMU to keep its speed fast and use an analyzer tool to analyze the log file and creates a function profile. We implemented this methodology for ARM architecture, and evaluated many kinds of embedded applications.