Patent attributes
A device dynamically collects runtime data while the device is continuously executing an application to identify the cause of a performance bottleneck. The device hardware first collects data of high-level performance events that indicate alternative causes for the performance bottleneck. Based on real-time analysis of the data, a first performance event is identified among the high-level performance events for causing the performance bottleneck. The device hardware is then re-configured to collect additional data of lower-level performance events that are under the first performance event and indicate additional alternative causes more specific than the alternative causes. The collecting, identifying, and re-configuring are performed while the device is continuously executing the application.