Re: [spr3498] time macro

[layer@Franz.COM (Kevin Layer)]

>>   The time macro returns user and system time for gc and non-gc and
>> the total time.  It also returns the real time.
>> 
>> Sample output (from the man page) looks like:
>> 
>>     cpu time (non-gc) 834 msec user, 16 msec system
>>     cpu time (gc)     216 msec user, 0 msec system
>>     cpu time (total)  1050 msec user, 16 msec system
>>     real time  1120 msec
>> 
>> Can someone please define user, system and real times.

`user' and `system' time are defined just as they are in UNIX.
`system' time is the amount of time spent in the kernel on behalf of
the process.  A process gets into the kernel by executing system calls
(chapter two of the UNIX manual).  `user' is everything else.  `total'
time is the sum of `user' and `system'.  With a lot of memory and only
one runnable process, `total' and `real' (wall clock) time should be
very close.

Let me know if you need further assistance.

Kevin Layer, Franz Inc.         1995 University Avenue, Suite 275
layer@Franz.COM (internet)      Berkeley, CA  94704
uunet!franz!layer (uucp)        Phone: (415) 548-3600; FAX: (415) 548-8253