3.1 Buildbots

At the highest level of ns-3 testing are the buildbots (build robots). If you are unfamiliar with this system look at http://djmitche.github.com/buildbot/docs/0.7.11/. This is an open-source automated system that allows ns-3 to be rebuilt and tested each time something has changed. By running the buildbots on a number of different systems we can ensure that ns-3 builds and executes properly on all of its supported systems.

Users (and developers) typically will not interact with the buildbot system other than to read its messages regarding test results. If a failure is detected in one of the automated build and test jobs, the buildbot will send an email to the ns-developers mailing list. This email will look something like:

  The Buildbot has detected a new failure of osx-ppc-g++-4.2 on NsNam.
  Full details are available at:
   http://ns-regression.ee.washington.edu:8010/builders/osx-ppc-g%2B%2B-4.2/builds/0
  
  Buildbot URL: http://ns-regression.ee.washington.edu:8010/
  
  Buildslave for this Build: darwin-ppc
  
  Build Reason: The web-page 'force build' button was pressed by 'ww': ww
  
  Build Source Stamp: HEAD
  Blamelist: 
  
  BUILD FAILED: failed shell_5 shell_6 shell_7 shell_8 shell_9 shell_10 shell_11 shell_12 
  
  sincerely,
  -The Buildbot

In the full details URL shown in the email, one can search for the keyword failed and select the stdio link for the corresponding step to see the reason for the failure.

The buildbot will do its job quietly if there are no errors, and the system will undergo build and test cycles every day to verify that all is well.

This document was generated by root on May 3, 2010 using texi2html 1.82.