Partial Build System Using Asset State Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current build processes for software applications are inefficient and prone to errors, particularly in large projects, where manual or automated methods take excessive time due to the need to re-evaluate all targets for updates, leading to lengthy build times.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that monitors the state of development assets and uses an asset state indicator to determine if a build is necessary, allowing for partial builds by identifying only the targets affected by out-of-date assets, thereby bypassing unnecessary evaluations and reducing build time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated build solutions are used to manage complex software builds, then build process automation and error handling are improved, but build time remains excessively long due to re-evaluating all targets
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by monitoring development assets and setting asset state indicators between builds. When assets change, the indicator is reset to trigger a build; when assets remain unchanged, the indicator prevents unnecessary build execution. This preliminary state tracking eliminates the need to re-evaluate all targets during each build, directly reducing build time while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential information needed for build decision-making (asset state indicators) from the complete build evaluation process. By separating the state monitoring function from the build execution function, the system avoids re-evaluating all targets and only executes builds when necessary, thereby reducing build time while preserving automation benefits.
2Manufacturing precision
If all targets are re-evaluated during each build to determine if they are up to date, then build accuracy is improved, but build time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary state tracking by monitoring development assets and maintaining asset state indicators between builds. This preliminary action captures the essential information about whether assets have changed, eliminating the need for complete re-evaluation during each build while maintaining build accuracy through targeted evaluation of only affected targets.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of evaluating all targets (excessive action), the system performs partial evaluation by checking only the asset state indicators and evaluating targets that are actually affected by asset changes. This partial action maintains build accuracy for affected components while avoiding unnecessary evaluation of unaffected targets, significantly reducing build time.
3Reliability
If manual build methods are used to maintain control over build processes, then error handling capability is improved, but efficiency and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the build system automatically monitors development assets, updates asset state indicators, and determines build execution needs without manual intervention. This maintains consistency and efficiency through automation while preserving error handling capability by implementing structured monitoring and state management mechanisms that reliably detect and respond to asset changes.
Data Source
AI summary
When an up to date state has been achieved for the inputs and outputs of a build process, an asset state indicator is set to indicate that all the inputs and outputs are up to date. Those inputs and outputs are monitored. If a change to any of the inputs and/or outputs is detected, the asset state indicator is updated to indicate that some build execution is needed. When a build request is detected, the current state of the asset state indicator is exposed. An execution sequence for targets of the build process based on dependencies between targets is determined. A starting point for a partial build is determined by determining the earliest-appearing target in the sequence that is affected by the detected changes to the inputs and outputs to the targets of the execution sequence. Executing the build process from this starting point will produce the updated outputs and return the system to the up to date state.