Power and Performance

Introduction

Abstract: This introductory chapter welcomes the reader into the exciting and rewarding world of performance analysis and optimization. First, the reader is guided through a short explanation of what software optimization entails. Second, some of the more significant motivations behind performance optimization are enumerated. Specifically, this section focuses on the impact of software performance on power-efficiency, including concepts such as “race to idle,” and user behavior. Third is a discussion of the concept of “premature optimization” and how the reader can differentiate appropriate and inappropriate optimizations. Finally, the reader is presented with a roadmap that outlines how the rest of the book’s content is organized. ...