Open Source Summit + Embedded Linux Conference Europe 2020

For years, designers of automated testing systems have used ad-hoc designs for the interfaces between a test, the test framework and board farm software, and the device under test. This has resulted in a situation where hardware tests cannot be reused from one lab to another. This talk presents a proposal for a standard API between automated tests and board farm management software. The idea is to allow a test to query the farm about available bus connections, attached hardware and monitors, and other test installation infrastructure. The test can then allocate and use that hardware, in a lab-independent fashion. The proposal calls for a dual REST/command-line API, with support for discovery, control and operation - of hardware and network resources. It is hoped that establishing a standard in this area will allow for the creation of an ecosystem of shareable hardware tests and board farm software.