A dynamic performance profiler is operable to receive, in substantially real-time, raw performance data from a testing platform. A software-based image is executing on a target hardware platform (e.g., either simulated or actual) on the testing platform, and the testing platform monitors such execution to generate corresponding raw performance data, which is communicated, in substantially real-time, as it is generated during execution of the software-based image to a dynamic profiler. The dynamic profiler may be configured to archive select portions of the received raw performance data to data storage. As the raw performance data is received, the dynamic profiler analyzes the data to determine whether the performance of the software-based image on the target hardware platform violates a predefined performance constraint. When the performance constraint is violated, the dynamic profiler archives a portion of the received raw performance.