Cache-Optimize a Graph-Analytics Kernel for a Social Platform
Overview
What this challenge is about.
You will cache-optimize a C++ graph kernel via reordering, blocking, and prefetching. Benchmark each step. You get a verifiable certificate.
The scenario
The platform (planning a US + South-East-Asia expansion in Q2, growing recommendation load 30 percent QoQ) cannot keep adding cores — the math is bandwidth, not parallelism.
The Brief
What you'll do, and what you'll demonstrate.
Re-design a friend-of-friend graph kernel for cache locality (reordering + blocking + prefetching) and prove 6-10x speedup with result equivalence.
Earning criteria — what you'll demonstrate
- Distinguish bandwidth-bound vs. latency-bound kernels with perf + likwid
- Apply vertex reordering (Gorder, RCM) to graph workloads
- Tune cache-blocking and software prefetching for a real CPU
- Validate optimization equivalence honestly on sampled queries
Program Fit
Where this fits in your program.
Sharpens the same skills your degree expects you to demonstrate.
Performance Engineering of Software Systems
Master · Systems
Strong alignment
This challenge maps to Performance Engineering of Software Systems at the Master level. It sharpens the same practical skills your coursework expects — but in a real industry context with actual constraints and deliverables.
Skills
Skills you'll demonstrate.
Each one shows up on your verified credential.
- Cache Optimization
Apply cache optimization to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Graph Algorithms
Apply graph algorithms to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Memory Hierarchy
Apply memory hierarchy to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Cpp
Apply cpp to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Performance Optimization
Apply performance optimization to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Benchmarking
Apply benchmarking to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
Careers
Career paths this challenge builds toward
Completing this challenge demonstrates skills that transfer directly to these roles: