Software unit profiles & Kiviat figures

Abstract

In the June, 1973 issue of the Performance Evaluation Review , the concept of using circular graphs (called Kiviat graphs by Kolence) to present system performance data was introduced in the column The Software Empiricist . In this article we wish to report on some recent work in using such graphs to present system and program profiles in a strikingly visual way of potential use to all practitioners of computer measurement. In discussing this data, we find it necessary to comment on the meaning of the variables used for such profiles in a way which also should be of interest to practitioners.