dutctl is a command-line utility and service ecosystem for managing test devices in open-source firmware development environments. By providing a unified interface to interact with development boards across different platforms, dutctl eliminates the fragmentation of device management tools that has long plagued firmware development workflows. The project features remote device control, command streaming, multi-architecture testing, and a flexible plugin architecture for extensibility. Designed for firmware developers, QA teams, and CI/CD pipelines, dutctl simplifies complex device interactions through intuitive commands and comprehensive documentation. The platform supports both local and remote device management through its agent-server architecture, enabling efficient collaboration in distributed teams. With per-commit testing capabilities across multiple architectures, dutctl ensures high-quality firmware releases. We invite the open-source firmware community to try dutctl, contribute to its growth, and help shape its future development of advanced features like automated test sequencing and expanded hardware support.
What is dutctl?
dutctl is an open-source command-line tool and service ecosystem designed specifically for managing development and test devices in firmware development environments. It provides a unified interface for interacting with various development boards, test fixtures, and embedded platforms, regardless of their underlying communication protocols or management interfaces.
The project consists of:
- A command-line client (dutctl) for direct device interaction
- A server component for managing remote device access
- Device agents that run close to hardware and expose a consistent API
- A flexible plugin architecture for extending functionality
The Problem dutctl Solves
Firmware development has long suffered from fragmented tooling. Each hardware vendor typically provides their own management utilities, each with different interfaces, capabilities, and quirks. This creates several challenges:
- Developers must learn multiple tools and interfaces
- Automation becomes difficult across heterogeneous device fleets
- Collaboration is hindered by inconsistent tooling
- CI/CD pipelines become complex and brittle
- Device sharing across teams is manual and error-prone
dutctl addresses these issues by providing a consistent, programmable interface to diverse hardware, enabling standardized workflows regardless of the underlying devices.
Who Can Use dutctl
dutctl serves several key user groups in the open firmware community:
- Firmware Developers: Streamline daily development tasks with consistent device control
- QA Engineers: Build reliable test automation across diverse hardware
- DevOps Teams: Integrate hardware testing into CI/CD pipelines with per-commit verification
- Open Hardware Projects: Provide consistent management interfaces for your custom boards
- Educational Institutions: Simplify device access for students learning firmware development
Whether you're working on coreboot, LinuxBoot, OpenBMC, or custom firmware projects, dutctl helps manage your development and test devices more efficiently.
Key Features
- Unified Command Interface: Control various devices through consistent commands
- Remote Device Management: Access and control devices over the network
- Bidirectional Command Streaming: Real-time interaction with device outputs
- Multi-Architecture Support: Test on different architectures in parallel
- Extensible Plugin System: Add support for new hardware components and protocols
- Scalability: Enable distributed device fleets and team collaboration
- Comprehensive Logging: Track device interactions for debugging and audit purposes
- Device Discovery: Find available devices on local and remote networks
- Secure Communication: Protect device access with authentication and encryption options
Try & Contribute
We invite the open firmware community to:
- Try dutctl: Download and integrate it into your firmware development workflow
- Provide Feedback: Help us refine the tool to better meet community needs
- Contribute: Add support for your hardware platforms and use cases
The Code is available on https://github.com/blindspotsoftware/dutctl
Future Outlook
The dutctl project is evolving to address emerging needs in firmware development:
- Automated Test Sequencing: Define and execute complex test scenarios across multiple devices
- Enhanced Device Telemetry: Capture and analyze device performance metrics
- Expanded Hardware Support: Add support for more development boards and platforms
- Cloud Device Farms: Enable large-scale remote device testing environments
- Compliance Testing: Automate standards compliance verification
By building a common foundation for device management, dutctl aims to accelerate innovation in the open firmware community while reducing the friction of working with diverse hardware platforms.