METHODS FOR INSTRUCTION TRACE DECOMPOSITION

An instruction trace is segmented into a number of contiguous instruction segments, such that each boundary between adjacent instruction segments is defined by a branch instruction. A segment identifier is assigned to each instruction segment, such that each instruction segment having identical content is assigned a same segment identifier. Using the assigned segment identifiers, the instruction trace is translated into a sequence of segment identifiers. The sequence of segment identifiers is then iteratively consolidated into a prime form that does not include a repetition of a heterogeneous pair of consecutive segment identifiers. The prime form of the sequence of segment identifiers is then rendered in a graphical format.