minipro

List all supported devices

$ minipro [[-l|--list]]

$ minipro [[-L|--search]] [device_name]

$ minipro [[-p|--device]] [chip_name] [[-D|--read_id]]

$ minipro [[-p|--device]] [chip_name] [[-r|--read]] [path/to/output_file.bin]

$ minipro [[-p|--device]] [chip_name] [[-w|--write]] [path/to/input_file.bin]

$ minipro [[-p|--device]] [chip_name] [[-m|--verify]] [path/to/file.bin]

$ minipro [[-p|--device]] [chip_name] [[-E|--erase]]

$ minipro [[-h|--help]]

minipro [-c config_file] [-o output_file] [-v]

-c config_file
    Specifies a configuration file to be used by minipro.
This file can contain various settings to customize profiling behavior.

-o output_file
    Directs the profiling output to a specified file instead of standard output.

-v
    Enables verbose output from minipro, providing more detailed information during its operation.

minipro is a lightweight, source-level profiling tool designed specifically for C and C++ programs. It aims to provide essential performance insights without the overhead and complexity of larger profiling suites. minipro helps developers identify performance bottlenecks by tracking function call counts and the time spent within each function. It works by instrumenting the source code before compilation, allowing it to gather detailed execution statistics. This makes it particularly useful for projects where detailed performance analysis is needed, but introducing extensive build system changes or complex dependencies is undesirable. The output of minipro is typically human-readable, making it easy to understand and act upon performance-related findings. It's a good choice for quick, targeted performance investigations on smaller to medium-sized projects.

minipro requires source code instrumentation, which means you need to modify your build process to include the minipro preprocessor.
Its capabilities are primarily focused on function call counts and time spent, and may not offer the granular detail of more sophisticated profilers for areas like cache misses or memory access patterns.
The effectiveness of minipro is highly dependent on the clarity and structure of the C/C++ source code being profiled.

minipro typically involves a preprocessing step where it modifies the source code. This instrumentation inserts calls to its own runtime library to record profiling data. The instrumented code is then compiled and linked as usual.
After execution, the collected data is processed by minipro to generate the performance reports.

minipro was developed to offer a simpler alternative to established profiling tools. The goal was to provide a straightforward way to profile C/C++ applications without requiring deep knowledge of complex profiling frameworks. Its usage is often seen in academic settings or for developers who prefer a minimalist approach to performance analysis.
The command's name, 'minipro', itself suggests its focus on being a 'mini' or 'minimal' profiler.

gprof(1), perf(1)