Attempting to optimise performance of a parallel code can be a daunting task, and often it is difficult to know where to start. For example, we might ask if the way computational work is divided is a problem? Or perhaps the chosen communication scheme is inefficient? Or does something else impact performance? To help address this issue, POP has defined a methodology for analysis of parallel codes, to provide a quantitative way of measuring the relative impact of the different factors inherent in parallelisation. A feature of the methodology is that it uses a hierarchy of metrics, each metric reflecting a common cause of inefficiency in parallel programs. These metrics then allow comparison of parallel performance (e.g. over a range of thread/process counts, across different machines, or at different stages of optimisation and tuning) to identify which characteristics of the code contribute to inefficiency.

Click here to read our article that introduces the metrics, explains their meaning, and provides insight into the thinking behind them.