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perf Cheatsheet

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perf is a performance analysis tool for Linux. Provides profiling, tracing, and performance monitoring capabilities using hardware performance counters and kernel tracing.

Basic Usage

  • perf stat command - Count events
  • perf record command - Record performance data
  • perf report - Analyze recorded data
  • perf top - Real-time profiling
  • perf list - List available events

perf stat

  • perf stat command - Count events for command
  • perf stat -a - System-wide statistics
  • perf stat -e event - Count specific event
  • perf stat -p PID - Attach to process
  • perf stat -r N - Run N times and average
  • perf stat -d - Detailed statistics
  • perf stat -I interval - Interval output

perf record

  • perf record command - Record command execution
  • perf record -a - System-wide recording
  • perf record -p PID - Record process
  • perf record -g - Record call graphs
  • perf record -e event - Record specific event
  • perf record -F freq - Sampling frequency
  • perf record -o file - Output file
  • perf record -s - Per-thread statistics

perf report

  • perf report - Analyze perf.data
  • perf report -i file - Input file
  • perf report -g - Show call graph
  • perf report -s symbol - Sort by symbol
  • perf report -n - Show overhead
  • perf report --stdio - Text output
  • perf report --tui - TUI interface

perf top

  • perf top - Real-time profiling
  • perf top -a - System-wide
  • perf top -p PID - Specific process
  • perf top -e event - Specific event
  • perf top -g - Show call graph
  • perf top -K - Hide kernel symbols
  • perf top -U - Hide user symbols

Common Examples

Count Events

perf stat ls

Count performance events for command.

System-Wide Stats

perf stat -a sleep 5

System-wide statistics.

Record Performance

perf record -g ./program

Record with call graph.

Real-Time Profiling

perf top

Interactive performance monitor.

List Events

perf list

Show available events.

Analyze Recorded Data

perf report

View performance report.

Record Process

perf record -p 1234

Record specific process.

Specific Event

perf stat -e cache-misses command

Count cache misses.

Tips

  • Use perf stat for quick measurements
  • Use perf record for detailed analysis
  • Use -g for call graph analysis
  • Use perf top for real-time monitoring
  • Check perf list for available events
  • May require root for system-wide profiling
  • Essential for performance optimization
  • Powerful tool for kernel and application profiling