Software build optimization

A build system comprising:

• a memory in which build engine instructions, redirection tool instructions, and build optimizer instructions are stored;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the build engine instructions to execute a build process of a software build, the build process specifying a set of data accessing operations implemented during a first execution of the build process to obtain a plurality of inputs, the set comprising a file accessing operation and a non-file accessing operation;
• wherein the build engine instructions are further configured to invoke the redirection tool instructions in connection with each data accessing operation of the set of data accessing operations, the redirection tool instructions being configured to cause the processor to capture the plurality of inputs for processing in accordance with the build optimizer instructions;
• wherein the processor is further configured to execute the build optimizer instructions to:
• compare first data representative of the captured plurality of inputs with second data, the second data being representative of the plurality of inputs obtained in connection with a request for a second execution of the build process;
• if the first data and the second data do not match, record the second data in a data store and store output data generated by the second execution of the build process;
• if the first data and the second data match, use output data generated by the first execution of the build process as an output for the second execution of the build process in lieu of proceeding with the second execution of the build process;
• and
• inject the redirection tool instructions into one or more child processes of the build process;
• and
• wherein the redirection tool instructions are further configured to cause the processor to aggregate input identifier data of each child process of the build process, and
• wherein the build engine instructions are configured to:
• recursively implement the build optimizer instructions in connection with the child process;
• and
• exclude from aggregation the input identifier data of a non-external input for a respective one of the child processes of the build process.

A computer program product for software build optimization of a software build, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method, the method comprising:

• collecting first data representative of a plurality of inputs for a build process of the software build, the plurality of inputs being obtained by a set of data accessing operations implemented during a first execution of the build process, the set comprising a file accessing operation and a non-file accessing operation, wherein collecting the first data comprises capturing the plurality of inputs via a redirection routine embedded within the build process for execution upon invocation of the file and non-file accessing operations;
• comparing the first data with second data, the second data being representative of the plurality of inputs obtained in connection with a request for a second execution of the build process;
• if the first data and the second data do not match, recording the first data in a data store and storing output data generated by the second execution of the build process;
• if the first data and the second data match, using output data generated by the first execution of the build process as an output for the second execution of the build process in lieu of proceeding with the second execution of the build process;
• and
• injecting the redirection routine into one or more child processes of the build process;
• wherein the set of data accessing operations comprises a non-file accessing operation directed to obtaining a variable of an environment in which the software build is executed;
• wherein collecting the first data comprises generating a machine-independent representation of a respective input of the plurality of inputs;
• and
• wherein capturing the plurality of inputs comprises aggregating input identifier data of each child process of the build process and excluding from aggregation the input identifier data of a non-external input for a respective one of the child processes of the build process.