Profile Guided Optimization

Profile Guided Optimization

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# Compile with flag -fprofile-generate
gcc -omain main.c -O3 -fprofile-generate=<dir>

# Generate profile for the execution
./main

# Use the generated profile to optimize the binary
gcc -omain main.c -O3 -fprofile-use=<dir>

Note: The profiling build is run on multiple inputs to generate a profile that resembles the actual workload. Coverage with gprof is used to help with this step

Further Reading

• Parallel Programming and PGO with GCC
• Building GCC with PGO
• PGO in Chrome
• GCC PGO on IBM AIX to improve zstd

Case Studies

• CPU Caches and Why You Care
• Profile Guided Optimization
• Build faster and high performing native applications using PGO