Using Perfetto for Linux Client and Embedded System Tracing and Debugging
By
todsacerdoti
Pulled from the oven just right. Trustworthy, fact-dense, deeply satisfying.
Summary
The article discusses Perfetto, a versatile tracing tool originally developed for Android and Chrome, and explains how Linux kernel, systems, and embedded developers can use it for debugging and root-causing performance issues. The content is based on a talk given at the 2025 Tracing Summit, highlighting Perfetto's flexibility beyond its original use cases and demonstrating its application in various development domains.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledPerfetto: The Swiss Army Knife of Linux Client/Embedded Tracing
My goal in this talk was to show how Linux kernel, systems and embedded developers can use Perfetto when debugging and root-causing performance issues in their respective domains
Even though the Perfetto UI is primarily built for viewing Android or Chrome traces, it is a flexible tool and can be used in many other ways!
The talk was recorded and is available on YouTube
Taking inspiration from Simon Willison, this post is an annotation
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