Tools

The MET includes the following components:

  • Aria, an execution-driven trace generator that can trace user code and shared libraries (but not operating system code), and can also trace mispredicted instructions.
  • Turandot, a trace-driven parameterized processor model.
  • Rondo, a trace-driven tool for exploring the accuracy of a collection of branch prediction algorithms.
  • LeProf, a trace-driven tool with built-in models of existing PowerPC cache structures that provides profile-style data as well as cache behavior of a program, at the source code level and the PowerPC instruction level.
  • eOak, a system-level simulator of the evaluation board for the PowerPC 403GCX embedded processor, also capable of generating instruction execution traces.
  • Trace tools for various trace formats.
  • PavaRotti , a collection of tools for performance analysis and validation.

Microarchitecture exploration also benefits from compiler technology, because new compilation algorithms might impact the performance of programs, or may lead to changes in the processor organizations. Chameleon, an experimental compiler originally developed for a VLIW architecture, has been extended with capabilities for this type of studies, as well as for exploring the potential effects of changes to the instruction set architecture. The extensions include a PowerPC back-end, so code generated from Chameleon can be used as input to the microarchitecture exploration tools described here.