Next-Generation Parallel Performance Visualization: A Prototyping Environment for Visualization Development

A new design process for the development of parallel performance visualizations that uses existing scientific data visualization software to prototype new performance visualizations can lead to drastic reductions in the graphics and data manipulation programming overhead currently experienced by performance visualization developers. The process evolves from a formal methodology relating performance abstractions to visual representations under which performance visualizations are described as mappings from performance objects to view objects, independent of any graphical programming. This prototyping environment also facilitates iterative design and evaluation of new and existing displays. Our work examines how an existing data visualization tool can provide a robust prototyping environment for next-generation parallel performance visualizations.