Absolute and Relative Pathnames

There are two forms of directories you can specify by using SUN_PROFDATA_DIR on the Profile Feedback compile line: absolute pathnames (which start with a `/'), and relative pathnames. If you use an absolute pathname, the profile bucket is dropped into that directory. If you specify a relative pathname, then it is relative to the current working directory where the executable is being run.

For example, if you are in /home/joe and run a program called /usr/bin/xyz with SUN_PROFDATA_DIR set to .. , then the profile bucket is called /home/joe/../xyz.profile. The value specified in the environment variable was relative, and therefore, it was relative to /home/joe. Also, the default profile bucket name is used, which is named after the executable.