Hybrid structures for simple computer performance estimates
Gordon Lyon · 1989
Even the coarsest performance estimators for a modern computer must account for architectural dependencies and variabilities.For instance, average execution rate is rather sensitive to the match between machine capabilities and application workload.Computing can be viewed as system components that are subjected to demands of an application, or alternately, as an application workload partitioned by system service.Models based upon this dual perspective help organize simple performance measurements.Several examples demonstrate strengths of a straightforward and flexible partitioning scheme based upon tree graphs.Quite explicit, the graphs promote a more critical view of measurements and support multiple interpretations.