On uses of extreme value theory fit for industrial-quality WCET analysis

Over the last few years, considerable interest has arisen in measurement-based probabilistic timing analysis. The term MBPTA has been used to indistinctly refer to a variety of different applications of Extreme Value Theory (EVT) to the timing analysis problem. The successful application of MBPTA techniques to a score of case studies has not fully dispelled the concerns that industrial stakeholders had with the quality of the computed bounds, hence ultimately with their industrial viability. Placing focus on the MBPTA methods and techniques developed in the PROARTIS and PROXIMA projects, collectively referred to as proMBPTA, we discuss the main misconceptions and pitfalls that can prevent a sound application of EVT-based WCET analysis. Using a combination of arguments and support examples, we show that proMBPTA is a rigorous process, fully amenable to sound and sustainable industrial use.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) under grant TIN2015-65316-P and the HiPEAC Network of Excellence. Jaume Abella has been partially supported by the MINECO under Ramon y Cajal grant RYC-2013-14717. Authors also thank George Lima for his feedback on this manuscript.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft