Two Easy Steps to Better Performance
Step 1. Find the hotspot(s): Measure where the application is spending time
In order to tune effectively, you must optimize the parts of the applications that demand a lot of time. Tune something that is already fast, and you will see very little benefit. A “hotspot” is a place where
the app is spending a lot of time. We want to find those areas and speed them up. This is easily done using a profiling tool like Intel® Parallel Amplifier. So, do not waste your time optimizing things that
do not need it—find your hotspots.

OK, you have found the hotspot, now what? In some cases, it may be obvious how to make the program run faster. For example, you may find you are repeating an operation that you only need to do once. Unfortunately, in most cases the answer is less obvious. People often ask, “Can’t you suggest something or do it automatically?” In many cases, we can.

Step 2. Optimize it: Recompile just the hotspot
The optimizing compiler in Intel® Parallel Composer can often improve performance just by recompiling the file(s) in which the hotspot(s) are located.

On smaller applications, you can just recompile everything and see what you get. On large applications with many modules and projects, this may be impractical. Fortunately, there is rarely a need to
recompile the entire application. Recompiling one or two files may be all that is necessary, or perhaps just a single project. And, since the Intel® Compiler is binary and debug compatible with the Microsoft*
compiler, you can seamlessly mix and match objects built with either tool.

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