uBuild: Automated Testing and Performance Evaluation of Embedded Linux Systems

This paper describes uBuild, a novel tool designed to support the automated execution of repeatable and controlled tests of embedded Linux systems. This is useful for continuous integration purposes, and to evaluate the impact of various design and implementation options on the system's performance. uBuild allows the designer to build the embedded system image from scratch, by compiling all the needed software from the source code and by even building the needed cross-compilation toolchain if required. It provides deterministic control on the configuration options used to build the cross-compilation toolchain, the Linux kernel, the system libraries, and all the programs. In this way, the effects of each option can be tested and evaluated in isolation. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland.