How to Create High-Resolution Timers in Linux: Alternatives to QueryPerformanceCounter?

Alternatives to High-Resolution Timers in Linux

Creating high-resolution timers for accurate time measurement is crucial in various applications. While in Windows, QueryPerformanceCounter from mmsystem.h is commonly used for this purpose, Linux offers similar alternatives for developers.

Boost ptime Function

One option in Linux is the boost ptime function, which provides microsecond-level precision. It is part of the Boost C library, a collection of open-source software tools that enhance standard C . To use boost ptime, include the following header:

#include <boost/date_time/posix_time/posix_time.hpp>

You can then use the microsec_clock::now() method to obtain the current time with a precision of microseconds:

boost::posix_time::ptime now = boost::posix_time::microsec_clock::now();

POSIX clock_gettime() Function

Alternatively, Linux provides thePOSIX clock_gettime() function, which offers a low-level interface to the system's clock. This function returns the current time with nanosecond precision, but it may not be available on all platforms. To use clock_gettime(), include the following header:

#include <time.h>

You can then use the following code to obtain the current time:

struct timespec now;
clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &now);

The CLOCK_MONOTONIC parameter specifies that the function should return a value that is monotonic, meaning it always increases and never goes backwards.

These alternatives provide efficient and reliable methods for creating high-resolution timers in Linux, allowing developers to measure time accurately in their applications.

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