Performance characterisation of real-time software in C++. A real-life example of digital camera-based acquisition systems at CERN

The performance of real-time software is critical in accelerator control systems, where precision and reliability are essential. This paper presents a method for performance characterisation of real-time software developed in C++, using a digital camera-based acquisition system at CERN as a case study. Key performance metrics, including execution time, latency, memory footprint and network use are analysed to evaluate the system's ability to meet strict real-time and scalability constraints. In addition, the profiling of task execution serves as a means of ensuring that the software continues to adhere to agreed specified behaviour, particularly as the system evolves and undergoes changes. The impact of software architecture, multithreading strategies, and hardware optimization on overall system performance is also discussed. Finally, the tools used to extract key performance metrics are presented, emphasising their generic nature and potential use for other real-time software developed in CERN’s accelerator sector.