Using Puma

Puma is a tool that collects performance data from the system as a program runs and saves the collected data to a file. You can then use Puma to analyze the information in the data file or to play back the program's execution for close review.

Before invoking Puma for the first time, make sure that /opt/langtools/bin is in your search PATH. This is required to enable the command puma. To access the manual page for the puma(1) command, you must have the /opt/langtools/share/man directory in your MANPATH.

Invoking Puma's Graphical User Interface

To invoke Puma interactively, enter the following command at the shell prompt:
puma
Puma displays its main window, as shown in Title not available.
To exit Puma at any time, move the mouse cursor to File and click the left mouse button. Puma displays the File pull-down menu. Click on Exit on the menu.

Using the Puma main window is discussed in the tutorial in Chapter 2. For now, notice that this window is your starting point for all Puma activities.

The Collect Performance Data button brings up the windows that guide you through the process of collecting performance data for a program as it executes.
The Collected Performance Data (Files) list box will display any Puma data files that are currently loaded into Puma for analysis (once you have used Puma to generate data files).
The four buttons below the list box give you a choice of four ways to display performance data.
Figure 1-2 The Main Puma Window
The Messages pane reports any run-time messages generated by Puma.
The File pulldown menu enables you to manage the Puma data files and to exit Puma.
The Help pulldown menu is your entry to the Puma online help system.

Invoking Puma's Command-Line Interface

To invoke Puma's command-line interface, enter the following command at the shell prompt:
puma -text
Puma displays its prompt, at which you can enter Puma commands.
puma>

To see a list of the commands, enter the command help at the Puma prompt:

   puma> help

   Help is available on the following topics:

       analyze    exit       manual     monitor

       processes  quit       set        show

       threads    versions   -col

To invoke and collect performance data from vanderbilt, type:

   puma> monitor -invoke vanderbilt

   Initializing image '/zeus/smith/puma/vanderbilt'...done.

   Monitoring lasted 29 seconds.

   Target ran 27 seconds and used 25 CPU seconds.

   Monitoring stopped after 177 samples.

   puma>

To exit Puma, type exit or quit at the Puma prompt, or press Ctrl-c.

Invoking Puma's Script Interface

To invoke Puma from a shell or shell script to execute a single command, enter the command puma and the name of the desired command as an option, that is, precede the command name with a hyphen.
puma -help
You can also supply arguments to the command option:
puma -man monitor

For example, to invoke and collect performance data from vanderbilt, type:

   puma -monitor -invoke vanderbilt

   Initializing image '/zeus/smith/puma/vanderbilt'...done.

   Monitoring lasted 29 seconds.

   Target ran 27 seconds and used 25 CPU seconds.

   Monitoring stopped after 177 samples.

   puma>

Puma exits when it has executed the single command supplied in script mode.

For More Information

The puma(l) man page describes how to invoke Puma's user interfaces.

Puma's graphical user interface contains extensive online help.

To browse the Puma Help volume, begin by clicking on Help:Introduction on the main Puma window and then follow hyperlinks throughout the volume.
To find help on using a particular window or dialog box, click on the Help menu or button on that display.
To find help on a particular screen item (button, list box, etc.), click on Help:On Item on the main Puma window and then click on the desired item (on any Puma window).
To find information on searching and printing helpfiles, click on Help:On Help on the main Puma window.

Table 1-1 Help Pulldown Menu on Main Puma Window

Introduction...

Overview...

Invoking and Exiting Puma...

Collecting Performance Data...

Analyzing Performance Data...

On Help...

On Item...

On Version...

Puma's command-line user interface provides online help on all Puma commands and options.

To see a list of the commands from within command-line mode, enter the command help at the puma> prompt:

   puma> help

   Help is available on the following topics:

       analyze    exit       manual     monitor

       processes  quit       set        show

       threads    versions   -col

For more detail on a particular command, enter the command man at the puma> prompt with the command name as an argument. For instance, to find out about the monitor command, type
puma> man monitor
The get information without invoking Puma, use the command help or man in "script" mode:
puma -help
or
puma -man monitor

Using Puma

Technical documentation

» Table of Contents

» Glossary

» Index

Invoking Puma's Graphical User Interface

Invoking Puma's Command-Line Interface

Invoking Puma's Script Interface

For More Information