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cgprof - generate colored call graph for profiled executables


cgprof [-h] [-T dev] [-g gmon_data] [gprof_file]


cgprof generate a function calling graph for a profiled executable. The executable must have been compiled and linked to output data suitable for gprof(1) (look at -pg option of gcc(1) ). If no -T option is given, output is dot(1) commands. All the results are printed on standard output. cgprof takes gprof_file as input, or standard input.

The result is a directed acyclic graph (DAG), where nodes represent functions traversed during the program execution, and edges function calls (arrow is from the caller to the called).

Node colors represent the cumulative execution time spent by a function and its children. Colors range from intense red (100 % time) to pale violet (0 %), like a rainbow. A node is white filled when it has no time execution data available, which may be the case for profiling functions or not instrumented functions.

cgprof helps to have a better understanding of program structure and execution. It makes hot spots identification visual and intuitive, and provides a minimum code coverage function.


Display this help text.
-T dev
This option sets the output format to dev. Possible values of dev are :
X11 output, with direct previewing using dotty(1) .
Postscript output, using dot(1) processor. The drawing will be sized to fill one landscape page.


to print a report from execution of test_hash, run the following command:

      $ cc -pg -o test_hash test_hash.c
      $ test_hash < test_data
      $ gprof test_hash | cgprof -Tps | lpr

See Also

gprof(1) , dot(1) , dotty(1) , cc(1) .


cgprof is inspired by a gprof2dot, a similar tool from AT&T Research Labs, distributed part of graphviz ( which includes also dot tools.


Marc Vertes <>

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