Simulated IoT Runtime with Virtual Smart Devices: Debugging and Testing End-user Automations

The notion of end-user programming gains increasing attention in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) as a promising way to enable users develop personalized automations by deploying visual programming tools. In an IoT ecosystem, devices may be either invisible to users, embedded or hardly locatable, sometimes physically inaccessible. In this sense, testing becomes very challenging and difficult, since bringing physical devices to certain states may be either impractical (e.g. window and door sensors) or overall unsafe (e.g. fire or smoke sensors). It is crucial that trials are carried out in a protected, virtual environment, not the physical one. In this context we discuss a simulated runtime that addresses the challenges of testing end-user automations by entirely virtualizing devices. In this runtime, tests are not confined to a particular location, but may be carried out anywhere and anytime, totally disengaged from the physical ecosystem, with all user tools residing in any typical mobile machine, capable to fully operate standalone in test mode. Finally, when automations involve time and scheduling, for practical reasons, time itself can be simulated so that testing is done on demand, not following or waiting the pace of physical time.