Topic 2: Performance prediction and evaluation (Introduction)

In recent years, a range of novel methodologies and tools have been developed for the purpose of evaluation, design, and model reduction of existing and emerging parallel and distributed systems. At the same time, the coverage of the term "performance" has constantly broadened to include reliability, robustness, energy consumption, and scalability in addition to classical performance-oriented evaluations of system functionalities. Indeed, the increasing diversification of parallel systems, from cloud computing to exascale, being fueled by technological advances, is placing greater emphasis on the methods and tools to address more comprehensive concerns. The aim of the Performance Prediction and Evaluation topic is to bring together system designers and researchers involved with the qualitative and quantitative evaluation and modeling of large-scale parallel and distributed applications and systems to focus on current critical areas of performance prediction and evaluation theory and practice.