I've Compiled My Program Under Linux, Specifically, Ubuntu WSL2 Running On Windows 10
Introduction
Profiling your program is an essential step in understanding its performance and identifying areas for improvement. Tracy is a popular open-source profiling tool that provides detailed information about your program's execution, including function calls, memory usage, and more. In this article, we will explore how to compile and profile your program using Tracy on Ubuntu WSL2 running on Windows 10.
Setting Up Ubuntu WSL2 on Windows 10
Before we dive into profiling with Tracy, let's make sure we have Ubuntu WSL2 set up on our Windows 10 machine. WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux 2) allows us to run a Linux environment directly on Windows, providing a seamless experience for developers.
To set up Ubuntu WSL2 on Windows 10, follow these steps:
- Enable WSL2: Open the Windows Features dialog by searching for "Turn Windows features on or off" in the Start menu. Scroll down and check the box next to "Windows Subsystem for Linux." Click "OK" to save the changes.
- Install Ubuntu WSL2: Open the Microsoft Store and search for "Ubuntu 20.04 LTS." Click the "Get" button to install the app.
- Launch Ubuntu WSL2: Once the installation is complete, click the "Launch" button to start the Ubuntu WSL2 environment.
Compiling Your Program with Tracy
Now that we have Ubuntu WSL2 set up, let's compile our program with Tracy. Tracy provides a simple and intuitive API for profiling your program. Here's a step-by-step guide to compiling your program with Tracy:
- Install Tracy: Run the following command in the Ubuntu WSL2 terminal to install Tracy:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install tracy
2. **Include Tracy's Header**: Add the following line at the top of your program's source file to include Tracy's header:
```c
#include <tracy.hpp>
- Add Tracy Macros: Add the following lines at the relevant places in your code to include Tracy macros:
TRACY_BEGIN_REGION("my_region") // code to be profiled TRACY_END_REGION()
4. **Build Your Project with Tracy**: Run the following command to build your project with Tracy:
```bash
g++ -O0 -g -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage -fprofile-generate=my.prof -o my_program my_program.cpp
Replace my_program.cpp
with the name of your program's source file.
Profiling Your Program with Tracy
Now that we have compiled our program with Tracy, let's run it and generate a profiling report. Here's a step-by-step guide to profiling your program with Tracy:
- Run Your Program: Run your program using the following command:
./my_program
2. **Generate Profiling Report**: Run the following command to generate a profiling report:
```bash
tracy --profile my.prof
Replace my.prof
with the name of the profiling file generated by the compiler.
Analyzing the Profiling Report
The profiling report generated by Tracy provides detailed information about your program's execution, including function calls, memory usage, and more. Here's a step-by-step guide to analyzing the profiling report:
- Open the Profiling Report: Open the profiling report in a web browser by running the following command:
tracy --open my.prof
Replace `my.prof` with the name of the profiling file generated by the compiler.
2. **Explore the Profiling Report**: The profiling report provides a detailed view of your program's execution, including function calls, memory usage, and more. Use the navigation menu to explore the report and identify areas for improvement.
Conclusion

Profiling your program with Tracy on Ubuntu WSL2 running on Windows 10 is a straightforward process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can gain valuable insights into your program's performance and identify areas for improvement. Remember to include Tracy's header, add Tracy macros, and build your project with Tracy to generate a profiling report. Analyze the report to identify areas for improvement and optimize your program for better performance.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues while compiling or profiling your program with Tracy, here are some common troubleshooting tips:
- Check the Compiler Flags: Make sure you are using the correct compiler flags to generate a profiling report. The flags
-O0 -g -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage -fprofile-generate=my.prof
are required to generate a profiling report.
- Check the Profiling File: Make sure the profiling file is generated correctly by checking the file size and contents.
- Check the Profiling Report: Make sure the profiling report is generated correctly by checking the report contents and navigation menu.
Additional Resources
For more information about Tracy and profiling your program, refer to the following resources:
- Tracy Documentation: The official Tracy documentation provides detailed information about the profiling tool, including installation, usage, and troubleshooting.
- Tracy GitHub Repository: The official Tracy GitHub repository provides the source code for the profiling tool, including examples and documentation.
- Ubuntu WSL2 Documentation: The official Ubuntu WSL2 documentation provides detailed information about the Linux environment, including installation, usage, and troubleshooting.<br/>
Tracy Profiling Tool: Frequently Asked Questions
=====================================================
Introduction
Tracy is a popular open-source profiling tool that provides detailed information about your program's execution, including function calls, memory usage, and more. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Tracy and profiling your program.
Q: What is Tracy?
A: Tracy is a profiling tool that provides detailed information about your program's execution, including function calls, memory usage, and more. It is designed to help developers identify performance bottlenecks and optimize their code for better performance.
Q: How do I install Tracy?
A: To install Tracy, run the following command in the Ubuntu WSL2 terminal:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install tracy
</code></pre>
<h2><strong>Q: How do I include Tracy's header in my program?</strong></h2>
<p>A: To include Tracy's header in your program, add the following line at the top of your program's source file:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">#include <tracy.hpp>
</code></pre>
<h2><strong>Q: How do I add Tracy macros to my code?</strong></h2>
<p>A: To add Tracy macros to your code, add the following lines at the relevant places in your code:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">TRACY_BEGIN_REGION("my_region")
// code to be profiled
TRACY_END_REGION()
</code></pre>
<h2><strong>Q: How do I build my project with Tracy?</strong></h2>
<p>A: To build your project with Tracy, run the following command:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">g++ -O0 -g -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage -fprofile-generate=my.prof -o my_program my_program.cpp
</code></pre>
<p>Replace <code>my_program.cpp</code> with the name of your program's source file.</p>
<h2><strong>Q: How do I run my program with Tracy?</strong></h2>
<p>A: To run your program with Tracy, run the following command:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">./my_program
</code></pre>
<h2><strong>Q: How do I generate a profiling report with Tracy?</strong></h2>
<p>A: To generate a profiling report with Tracy, run the following command:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">tracy --profile my.prof
</code></pre>
<p>Replace <code>my.prof</code> with the name of the profiling file generated by the compiler.</p>
<h2><strong>Q: How do I analyze the profiling report with Tracy?</strong></h2>
<p>A: To analyze the profiling report with Tracy, open the profiling report in a web browser by running the following command:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">tracy --open my.prof
</code></pre>
<p>Replace <code>my.prof</code> with the name of the profiling file generated by the compiler.</p>
<h2><strong>Q: What are the common issues with Tracy?</strong></h2>
<p>A: Some common issues with Tracy include:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Incorrect compiler flags</strong>: Make sure you are using the correct compiler flags to generate a profiling report.</li>
<li><strong>Incorrect profiling file</strong>: Make sure the profiling file is generated correctly by checking the file size and contents.</li>
<li><strong>Incorrect profiling report</strong>: Make sure the profiling report is generated correctly by checking the report contents and navigation menu.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Q: Where can I find more information about Tracy?</strong></h2>
<p>A: For more information about Tracy and profiling your program, refer to the following resources:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Tracy Documentation</strong>: The official Tracy documentation provides detailed information about the profiling tool, including installation, usage, and troubleshooting.</li>
<li><strong>Tracy GitHub Repository</strong>: The official Tracy GitHub repository provides the source code for the profiling tool, including examples and documentation.</li>
<li><strong>Ubuntu WSL2 Documentation</strong>: The official Ubuntu WSL2 documentation provides detailed information about the Linux environment, including installation, usage, and troubleshooting.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>
<p>Tracy is a powerful profiling tool that provides detailed information about your program's execution, including function calls, memory usage, and more. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can gain valuable insights into your program's performance and identify areas for improvement. Remember to include Tracy's header, add Tracy macros, and build your project with Tracy to generate a profiling report. Analyze the report to identify areas for improvement and optimize your program for better performance.</p>