Performance markers to measure benchmark timing of features in a program

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide a mechanism for inserting performance markers into programs to obtain and provide data regarding the run-time benchmark timing of the programs. The computing system has an init module for determining if the benchmark timing data is to be collected during the operation of the application program, a performance marker module for obtaining and storing the benchmark timing data for later retrieval, and an uninit module for formatting and storing the obtained benchmark timing data into memory that permits retrieval after the termination of the application program. The init module is executed before any benchmark timing data is collected. The performance marker module is executed each time benchmark timing data is to be collected. The uninit module is executed after all benchmark timing data desired has been collected. The method and computer data product relate to a computer implemented process that inserts one or more code markers into the application program at locations within the application program corresponding to the point at which benchmark timing data is desired and that determines if benchmark timing data is to be collected at each code marker by checking for the existence of processing modules identified by an identification key within a system registry.