Reproducible Software Build System for Code Audits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing software build tooling and package managers/configuration management systems often produce non-repeatable builds, making code audits, code verification, and software forensics difficult or impossible, especially in critical domains like automotive or medical applications.

Innovation Solution

A build system that supports controlled and reproducible software builds by utilizing externally defined device-specific build rules and dependencies, enforcing versioning of all software components through a trusted software repository, and disallowing uncontrolled software dependency and configuration management systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If software build tooling and package managers are used for rapid software development, then productivity is improved, but build repeatability deteriorates making code audits and verification difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware development speedVSAvoidbuild repeatability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The build system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining all build inputs (source code, dependencies, build rules, configuration files) in a controlled manner before the actual build process. This includes pre-versioning all inputs using immutable version identifiers and pre-validating build configurations against device-specific requirements, ensuring that when the build executes, all conditions for repeatability are already established.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by introducing immutable version identifiers for all build inputs and enforcing device-specific build configurations as fixed parameters. Build rules transform from flexible, developer-configurable parameters to constrained, validated parameters that must match predefined device profiles, thereby ensuring consistency across builds while maintaining productivity through automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If versioning and immutable inputs are enforced for build repeatability, then build reliability is improved, but device adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuild repeatabilityVSAvoiddevice-specific customization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The build system segments device requirements into distinct, isolated device profiles with unique identifiers and specific build configuration sets. Each device type (e.g., smartphone, tablet, wearable) has its own segmented configuration namespace, allowing immutable versioning within each segment while maintaining overall system adaptability through the collection of segmented device profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces device profile configuration files as intermediary artifacts between the immutable build system and diverse device requirements. These intermediary profiles act as translation layers that map generic build rules to device-specific parameters, enabling the rigid versioned build system to accommodate flexible device adaptations without compromising build repeatability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive build logging and validation are implemented for forensics, then measurement precision is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforensic analysis accuracyVSAvoidbuild system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The build system performs self-service by automatically generating comprehensive build logs, validation reports, and forensic artifacts during the normal build process without requiring separate logging infrastructure. The same build validation mechanisms that ensure repeatability also automatically produce forensic evidence, eliminating the need for additional complexity while maintaining high measurement precision for forensic analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12204434B2Build system supporting code audits, code verification, and software forensics

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 KARMA AUTOMOTIVE LLC

AI summary

In various embodiments, and apparatus may be configured to identify a software blueprint for creating a reproducible software build, wherein the software blueprint contains resource nodes that contain a manifest of named build steps and 1) a resource identifier, or 2) a single source of truth (SSOT) resource software locator; generate modeling information identifying a hierarchically controlled order or a topographically sorted order for the build steps; populate a project hierarchy based on the modeling information, wherein the project hierarchy comprises an SSOT for the reproducible software build; assemble the reproducible software build using the SSOT, including processing the build steps in the hierarchically controlled order or the topographically sorted order for the build steps. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.