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Diffstat (limited to 'docs/users_guide/profiling.rst')
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diff --git a/docs/users_guide/profiling.rst b/docs/users_guide/profiling.rst index d8199adfd7..4acd13c48c 100644 --- a/docs/users_guide/profiling.rst +++ b/docs/users_guide/profiling.rst @@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ Time profiling a program is a three-step process: 3. Examine the generated profiling information, use the information to optimise your program, and repeat as necessary. +The time profiler measures the CPU time taken by the Haskell code in your application. +In particular time taken by safe foreign calls is not tracked by the profiler (see :ref:`prof-foreign-calls`). + .. _cost-centres: Cost centres and cost-centre stacks @@ -310,6 +313,39 @@ and become CAFs. You will probably need to consult the Core .. index:: single: -fprof-cafs +.. _prof-foreign-calls: + +Profiling and foreign calls +--------------------------- + +Simply put, the profiler includes time spent in unsafe foreign +calls but ignores time taken in safe foreign calls. For example, time spent blocked on IO +operations (e.g. ``getLine``) is not accounted for in the profile as ``getLine`` is implemented +using a safe foreign call. + +The profiler estimates CPU time, for Haskell threads within the program only. +In particular, time "taken" by the program in blocking safe foreign calls +is not accounted for in time profiles. The runtime has the notion of a virtual +processor which is known as a "capability". Haskell threads are run on capabilities, +and the profiler samples the capabilities in order to determine what is being +executed at a certain time. When a safe foreign call is executed, it's run outside +the context of a capability; hence the sampling does not account for the time +taken. Whilst the safe call is executed, other +Haskell threads are free to run on the capability, and their cost will be attributed +to the profiler. When the safe call is finished, the blocked, descheduled thread can +be resumed and rescheduled. + +However, the time taken by blocking on unsafe foreign calls is accounted for in the profile. +This happens because unsafe foreign calls are executed by the same capability +their calling Haskell thread is running on. Therefore, an unsafe foreign call will +block the entire capability whilst it is running, and any time the capability is +sampled the "cost" of the foreign call will be attributed to the calling cost-centre stack. + +However, do note that you are not supposed to use unsafe foreign calls for any +operations which do block! Do not be tempted to replace your safe foreign calls +with unsafe calls just so they appear in the profile. This prevents GC from +happening until the foreign call returns, which can be catastrophic for performance. + .. _prof-compiler-options: Compiler options for profiling |