User:Lieven Van Speybroeck/Prototyping/2-CPUtter

CPUtter

Description

The CPU... the brain of our computer systems. And yet, it's so quiet while making it's calculations. Not like those fans, hard disks and DVD-drives that tend to manifest themselves with all sorts of bleeps and buzzes. Therefore, i thought about making a voice for the processor. An intuitive representation of all it's hard work in the background. This is my attempt.

Structure

• Check user cpu usage for an amount of time and log it in a file.
• Filter the logfile so the result is a list of numbers that represent the cpu-usage over time.
• Create a scale from "low usage" to "high usage", compare each line of the file to that scale and convert it into a tone with pitch value.
• Use bending to create an ongoing sequence between the tones and their different pitch values.
• Let it sing!

Source

For making a log-file of the cpu-usage, i used "iostat", which does pretty much the same as "top" does, but you can filter a bit more:

iostat -c 1 250 > log

This will put 250 cpu-usage (-c) reports at 1 second intervals in "log". You can change the speed and amount of lines (amount of statistics) by changing these numbers. This way you could run it as long as you want to get better results.

The output looks a bit like this:

[log]

Linux 2.6.32-25-generic (Lieven) 	10/21/2010 	_x86_64_	(2 CPU)

avg-cpu:  %user   %nice %system %iowait  %steal   %idle
           1.52    0.10    0.69    0.28    0.00   97.42

avg-cpu:  %user   %nice %system %iowait  %steal   %idle
           2.55    0.00    0.00    0.51    0.00   96.94

avg-cpu:  %user   %nice %system %iowait  %steal   %idle
           3.98    0.00    0.00    0.00    0.00   96.02

avg-cpu:  %user   %nice %system %iowait  %steal   %idle
           4.10    0.00    2.05    0.00    0.00   93.85

avg-cpu:  %user   %nice %system %iowait  %steal   %idle
           7.61    0.00    1.52    0.00    0.00   90.86

avg-cpu:  %user   %nice %system %iowait  %steal   %idle
           4.02    0.00    1.01    0.00    0.00   94.97

avg-cpu:  %user   %nice %system %iowait  %steal   %idle
           2.01    0.00    2.01    0.00    0.00   95.98

avg-cpu:  %user   %nice %system %iowait  %steal   %idle
           1.05    0.00    0.00    0.00    0.00   98.95

avg-cpu:  %user   %nice %system %iowait  %steal   %idle
           5.42    0.00    1.48    0.00    0.00   93.10

... and so on

Code

With sed regular expressions i get rid of all the info that is useless.

[filter.sed]

1d
s/[a-z]//g
s/%//g
s/^[ ]*//g
s/[-:]//g
s/\.//g
s/   /r/g
s/rrrr//g
s/r /r/g
/^$/d
s/r.*//

s/^0\(.*\)/\1/
s/^0\(.\)/\1/

Use bash to prepare everything for midge:

[cputter.sh]

cat <<END
@head {
	\$time_sig 4/4
	\$tempo 250
}
@body {
	@channel 1 {
		\$patch 53
		\$length 60
		\$octave 5
		\$strum 8
		%bend e {

END

	cat log | sed -f filter.sed > score.txt

# define the scale of 'low usage' to 'high usage'

	lowest=400
	low=1200
	normal=2400
	heigh=4000


# go through every line, compare it to the scale and convert it to a tone + pitch (the heigher the tone, the heigher the CPU-usage)

	while read line;
		do
			if [ "$line" -lt "$lowest" ];
				then echo "4-2"
			elif [ "$line" -lt "$low" ];
				then echo "4-1"
			elif [ "$line" -lt "$normal" ];
				then echo "4+0"
			elif [ "$line" -lt "$heigh" ];
				then echo "4+1"
			elif [ "$line" -gt "$heigh" ]; 
				then echo "4+2"
			fi
		done < score.txt

cat <<END
		}
	}
}
END

Start recording your processor activity. Browse, code, watch some (flash) movies, read some mails and get a drink. Do some 3D rendering if you wish! (set the last iostat value high enough then though):

iostat -c 1 250 > log

When that's done:

bash cputter.sh | midge -o cputter.mid
timidity cputter.mid

enjoy!

ADJUSTMENTS & CORRECTIONS (IMPORTANT)

I found out there were some problems with my script. Mostly the bending wasn't handled in a right way and it caused trouble for different logfiles. I searched for a way where the bending was handled properly and creates an exact 'image' of the cpu process. Also, i wanted to create a second channel that reflects the idle-percentage of the cpu, and make both channels work a bit like communicating barrels. It was a bit of a struggle, but eventually i came up with this:

cat <<END
@head {
	\$time_sig 4/4
	\$tempo 80
}
@body {

%define idle_organ_min { ( e g1 d2 a2 ) }
%define idle_organ_low { ( e1 g2 d3 a3 ) }
%define idle_organ_norm { ( e2 g3 d4 a4 ) }
%define idle_organ_high { ( e3 g4 d5 a5 ) }
%define idle_organ_max { ( e4 g5 d6 d6 ) }

	@channel 1 {
		\$patch 53
		\$length 12
		\$octave 5
		\$reverb 100
		\$volume 60

END
# Use %bend to create a sequential sound that mimics an ongoing and changing process.
# The higher the tone gets, the higher the CPU usage 
cat <<END

		%bend g {
		
END

		# Pipe the log file to the filter with the regexp and store the output in a textfile

		cat log | sed -f filter.sed > score.txt

		# Define the scale of 'low usage' to 'high usage'.

		lowest=400
		low=1200
		normal=2400
		high=4000
		max=10000

		# Create variables to define on what pitch level the tones are

		minpitch=active
		lowpitch=inactive
		normpitch=inactive
		highpitch=inactive
		maxpitch=inactive

	# This is where most corrections/additions take place:	
	# Go through every line of the score.txt file
	# Compare it to the scale
	# Check which pitch is active
	# Echo a tone with the right bend value

	while read line;
		do

		# All checks are necessary to get the bending handled properly and get a correct 'image' of the cpu usage

		# MINIMAL PITCH LEVEL
		# -------------------
	
			if [[ "$line" -lt "$lowest" && "$minpitch" != "active" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=active
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$lowest" && "$minpitch" != "active" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=active
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-20"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$lowest" && "$minpitch" != "active" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=active
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-30"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$lowest" && "$minpitch" != "active" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=active
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-40"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$lowest" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"

		# LOW PITCH LEVEL
		# ---------------

			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$low" && "$lowpitch" != "active" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=active
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4+10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$low" && "$lowpitch" != "active" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=active
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$low" && "$lowpitch" != "active" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=active
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-20"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$low" && "$lowpitch" != "active" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=active
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo  "4-30"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$low" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"
		
		# NORMAL PITCH LEVEL
		# ------------------

			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$normal" && "$normpitch" != "active" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=active
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+20"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$normal" && "$normpitch" != "active" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=active
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$normal" && "$normpitch" != "active" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=active
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4-10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$normal" && "$normpitch" != "active" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=active
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4-20"	
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$normal" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"

		# HIGH PITCH LEVEL
		# ----------------

			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$high" && "$highpitch" != "active" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=active
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+30"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$high" && "$highpitch" != "active" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=active
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+20"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$high" && "$highpitch" != "active" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=active
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$high" && "$highpitch" != "active" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=active
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4-10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$high" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"

		# MAXIMUM PITCH LEVEL
		# -------------------

			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$high" && "$maxpitch" != "active" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]] 
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=active
				echo "4+40"
			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$high" && "$maxpitch" != "active" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]] 
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=active
				echo "4+30"
			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$high" && "$maxpitch" != "active" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=active
				echo "4+20"
			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$high" && "$maxpitch" != "active" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=active
				echo "4+10"
			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$high" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"
			fi		
		done < score.txt

cat <<END
			}
		}

END
		# This second channel will map the idle-percentage of the cpu
		# Since idle percentage goes down when active percentage goes up, these 2 channels are a bit like communicating barrels
		# I thought it might be nice to turn that into sound.
		# The idle percentage are the male voices (bass, in the background, lower volume), they go down when the active voices (females, foreground, higher volume) go up and vice versa

cat <<END

		@channel 2 {
			\$patch 53
			\$length 12
			\$octave 4
			\$reverb 100
			\$volume 35
		
		%bend f {

END

		# assign the chords to variables, just to make typing/adjusting faster and easier

		idlemin=400
		idlelow=2000
		idlenorm=5000
		idlehigh=8000
		idlemax=10000

		minpitch=inactive
		lowpitch=inactive
		normpitch=inactive
		highpitch=inactive
		maxpitch=active		

		cat log | sed -f filter2.sed > score2.txt
		
		while read line;
		do

		# MINIMAL PITCH LEVEL
		# -------------------
	
			if [[ "$line" -lt "$idlemin" && "$minpitch" != "active" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=active
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlemin" && "$minpitch" != "active" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=active
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-20"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlemin" && "$minpitch" != "active" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=active
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-30"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlemin" && "$minpitch" != "active" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=active
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-40"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlemin" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"

		# LOW PITCH LEVEL
		# ---------------

			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlelow" && "$lowpitch" != "active" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=active
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4+10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlelow" && "$lowpitch" != "active" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=active
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlelow" && "$lowpitch" != "active" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=active
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo "4-20"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlelow" && "$lowpitch" != "active" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then 
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=active
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive				
				echo  "4-30"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlelow" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"
		
		# NORMAL PITCH LEVEL
		# ------------------

			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlenorm" && "$normpitch" != "active" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=active
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+20"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlenorm" && "$normpitch" != "active" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=active
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlenorm" && "$normpitch" != "active" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=active
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4-10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlenorm" && "$normpitch" != "active" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=active
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4-20"	
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlenorm" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"

		# HIGH PITCH LEVEL
		# ----------------

			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlehigh" && "$highpitch" != "active" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=active
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+30"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlehigh" && "$highpitch" != "active" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=active
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+20"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlehigh" && "$highpitch" != "active" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=active
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4+10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlehigh" && "$highpitch" != "active" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=active
				maxpitch=inactive
				echo "4-10"
			elif [[ "$line" -lt "$idlehigh" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"

		# MAXIMUM PITCH LEVEL
		# -------------------

			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$idlehigh" && "$maxpitch" != "active" && "$minpitch" == "active" ]] 
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=active
				echo "4+40"
			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$idlehigh" && "$maxpitch" != "active" && "$lowpitch" == "active" ]] 
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=active
				echo "4+30"
			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$idlehigh" && "$maxpitch" != "active" && "$normpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=active
				echo "4+20"
			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$idlehigh" && "$maxpitch" != "active" && "$highpitch" == "active" ]]
				then
				minpitch=inactive
				lowpitch=inactive
				normpitch=inactive
				highpitch=inactive
				maxpitch=active
				echo "4+10"
			elif [[ "$line" -gt "$idlehigh" && "$maxpitch" == "active" ]]
				then echo "4+0"
			fi
		done < score2.txt

cat <<END
		}
	}
}
END

Output file

For some reason, the soundfile doesn't play when i upload it to the wiki. It plays from the terminal with timidity, but not in any other player it seems... Any suggestions?