How to calculate MIPS for an algorithm for ARM processor

Question

I have been asked recently to produced the MIPS (million of instructions per second) for an algorithm we have developed. The algorithm is exposed by a set of C-style functions.

Answer 1

Also remember that different compilers and compiler options make a HUGE difference. The same source code can run at many different speeds. So instead of buying the 2mips processor you may be able to use the 1/2mips processor and use a compiler option. Or spend the money on a better compiler and use the cheaper processor.

Benchmarking is flawed at best. As a hobby I used to compile the same dhrystone (and whetstone) code on various compilers from various vendors for the same hardware and the numbers were all over the place, orders of magnitude. Same source code same processor, dhrystone didnt mean a thing, not useful as a baseline. What matters in benchmarking is how fast does YOUR algorithm run, it had better be as fast or faster than it needs to. Depending on how close to the finish line you are allow for plenty of slop. Early on on probably want to be running 5 or 10 or 100 times faster than you need to so that by the end of the project you are at least slightly faster than you need to be.

I agree with what I think S. Lott is saying, this is all sales and marketing and management talk. Being the one that management has put between a rock and the hard place then what you need to do is get them to buy the fastest processor and best tools that they are willing to spend based on the colorful pie charts and graphs that you are going to generate from thin air as justification. If near the end of the road it doesnt quite meet performance, then you could return to stackoverflow, but at the same time management will be forced to buy a different toolchain at almost any price or swap processors and respin the board. By then you should know how close to the target you are, we need 1.0 and we are at 1.25 if we buy the processor that is twice as fast as the one we bought we should make it.

Whether or not you can automate these kinds of things or simulate them depends on the tools, sometimes yes, sometimes no. I am not familiar with the tools you are talking about so I cant speak to them directly.