Tech
Yandex Develops and Open-Sources Perforator for Server Infrastructure
Yandex, an international tech company, has introduced Perforator, a powerful open-source tool for real-time monitoring and analyzing servers and applications.
Perforator helps developers pinpoint sections of code that use the most resources, providing detailed data to improve efficiency. By identifying areas for optimization and enabling profile-guided adjustments, the tool gives businesses actionable insights to fine-tune applications, potentially cutting infrastructure costs by up to 20%. For some companies, this could mean saving millions or even billions annually.
“Perforator allows businesses to maximize server performance without compromising quality,” said Sergey Skvortsov, a Yandex senior developer and project leader. “By using Perforator, companies can optimize their code, reduce server strain, and lower energy and hardware expenses.”
Why Choose Perforator?
Efficient resource management is critical for organizations of all sizes, from large tech companies to startups working within tight budgets. Instead of spending on additional hardware, businesses can use Perforator to optimize their existing systems while maintaining performance. After being used across various Yandex services for over a year, the tool is now available to developers, companies, and researchers worldwide.
Perforator can be deployed directly on company servers, reducing reliance on third-party cloud services and ensuring complete control over sensitive data. This makes it particularly appealing for businesses with strict data security policies or those operating closed systems.
“Organizations large and small can benefit,” Skvortsov added. “For smaller setups with 10 to 100 servers, the savings could be in the millions each year. Larger companies with thousands of servers stand to save hundreds of millions—or even billions—annually. No matter the scale, Perforator helps reduce infrastructure costs and frees resources for innovation and other priorities.”
How Perforator Works
Perforator offers in-depth insights into resource usage and evaluates how code affects performance, identifying the applications that demand the most system resources. It uses eBPF technology, which safely runs small programs within the Linux kernel without slowing down the system. This enables advanced monitoring, better security, and effective performance optimization without modifying the source code.
- Yandex introduces Perforator, a tool for identifying and evaluating code inefficiencies across a company’s entire code base.
- Perforator helps developers identify the most resource-intensive sections of code and provides detailed statistics for subsequent optimization.
- The solution can help businesses reduce CPU resource usage by 20% annually.
- By leveraging Perforator, companies can save millions or even billions, depending on company size, and allocate resources for further innovation and growth.
- Perforator can be accessed for free on GitHub.
The tool supports multiple programming languages, including C, C++, Go, Rust, Python, and Java. Perforator also simplifies troubleshooting with easy-to-understand data visualizations like flame graphs, making identifying and addressing performance issues easier.
Skvortsov noted, “Perforator has been thoroughly tested in Yandex’s demanding environment for over a year. Its wide range of features makes it a reliable solution for monitoring and improving server performance.”
One standout feature is its support for profile-guided optimization (PGO), which can speed up C++ programs by as much as 10%. Perforator is also versatile, running on individual computers, which makes it accessible to large enterprises, smaller businesses, and even developers working on personal projects. Larger organizations can also benefit from features like A/B testing to make better decisions during optimization.
Open Source for Everyone
Yandex decided to open-source Perforator to encourage collaboration within the tech community.
“We believe that sharing foundational system technologies helps drive technological progress globally,” said Skvortsov. “Our goal is to provide tools that deliver value to both developers and businesses. By working with the community, we can make smarter decisions about improving profiling technology.”
What’s Next for Perforator?
Yandex plans to enhance Perforator with additional features, such as better integration with Python and Java and more detailed event analysis.
The tool’s source code is now available on GitHub alongside other Yandex open-source projects like YaFSDP, which speeds up the training of large language models. Perforator is the newest addition to Yandex’s growing list of open-source solutions. Developers can explore the full range of tools, including AQLM and YTsaurus, on Yandex’s open-source project page.
About Yandex
Yandex is a global tech company that creates smart products and services powered by machine learning. Since 1997, it has delivered innovative solutions that help users and businesses navigate both online and offline challenges. From search and navigation tools to on-demand transportation services, Yandex serves millions of people worldwide.
