Timer function to provide time in nano seconds using C++

Question

I wish to calculate the time it took for an API to return a value. The time taken for such an action is in the space of nano seconds. As the API is a C++ class/function, I a

Answer 1

You can use Embedded Profiler (free for Windows and Linux) which has an interface to a multiplatform timer (in a processor cycle count) and can give you a number of cycles per seconds:

EProfilerTimer timer;
timer.Start();

... // Your code here

const uint64_t number_of_elapsed_cycles = timer.Stop();
const uint64_t nano_seconds_elapsed =
    mumber_of_elapsed_cycles / (double) timer.GetCyclesPerSecond() * 1000000000;

Recalculation of cycle count to time is possibly a dangerous operation with modern processors where CPU frequency can be changed dynamically. Therefore to be sure that converted times are correct, it is necessary to fix processor frequency before profiling.