Hotspot is a graphical user interface for analyzing Linux perf performance data.
The tool addresses the challenge of interpreting raw perf output by providing visual representations of profiling data. It displays performance information through multiple views including flame graphs, caller-callee analysis, top-down and bottom-up call trees, and off-CPU profiling results. Users can filter and inspect data by time, process, or thread using an interactive timeline. The tool can launch perf directly to profile new applications or attach to running processes, and it supports importing various performance data formats beyond standard perf.data files.
Hotspot suits developers working on Linux systems who need to identify performance bottlenecks in their applications. It is particularly valuable for those already familiar with perf but seeking a more intuitive interface than command-line tools provide. The project includes support for embedded systems profiling, disassembly views, tracepoint analysis, and Rust symbol demangling. It can be installed via package managers on various distributions or as an AppImage for broader compatibility.
The project maintains steady development activity with regular updates addressing user-reported issues and feature requests. Development includes ongoing refinement of visualization capabilities and expansion of supported data formats. The maintainers actively document known limitations such as broken backtraces in certain scenarios and work toward resolving missing features like recording without superuser privileges. The project integrates with debuginfod for symbol resolution and maintains compatibility with Qt Creator workflows.
