Understanding computation time: a critical discussion of time as a computational performance metric
Harris-Birtill, D. and Harris-Birtill, Rose (2021) Understanding computation time: a critical discussion of time as a computational performance metric. In: Misztal, A. and Harris, P.A. and Parker, J.A. (eds.) Time in Variance. The Study of Time 17. Netherlands: Brill. ISBN 9789004470163. (In Press)
Abstract
Computation time is an important performance metric that scientists and software engineers use to determine whether an algorithm is capable of running within a reasonable time frame. We provide an accessible critical review of the factors that influence computation time, highlighting problems in its reporting in current research and the negative practical impact that this has on developers, recommending best practice for its measurement and reporting. Discussing how computers and coders measure time, a discrepancy is exposed between best practice in the primarily theoretical field of computational complexity, and the difficulty for non-specialists in applying such theoretical findings. We therefore recommend establishing a better reporting practice, highlighting future work needed to expose the effects of poor reporting. Freely shareable templates are provided to help developers and researchers report this information more accurately, helping others to build upon their work, and thereby reducing the needless global duplication of computational and human effort. Arkadiusz , Paul A. , and Jo Alyson
Metadata
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Keyword(s) / Subject(s): | Time, Computation, Computation time, Computational complexity, Software, Hardware, Time complexity, GPU, CPU, TPU |
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication |
| Depositing User: | Administrator |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Sep 2021 15:11 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Aug 2023 12:51 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/45789 |
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