Measuring Erlang-Based Scalability and Fault Tolerance on the Edge

Embedded systems in IoT are expected to be run by reliable, resource-efficient software. Devices on the edge are typically required to communicate with central nodes, and in some setups with each other, constituting a distributed system. The Erlang language, favored for its constructs that support b...

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Main Authors: Daniel Ferenczi, Gergely Ruda, Melinda Tóth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4843
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author Daniel Ferenczi
Gergely Ruda
Melinda Tóth
author_facet Daniel Ferenczi
Gergely Ruda
Melinda Tóth
author_sort Daniel Ferenczi
collection DOAJ
description Embedded systems in IoT are expected to be run by reliable, resource-efficient software. Devices on the edge are typically required to communicate with central nodes, and in some setups with each other, constituting a distributed system. The Erlang language, favored for its constructs that support building fault-tolerant, distributed systems, offers solutions to these challenges. Its dynamic type system and higher-level abstractions enable fast development, while also featuring tools for building highly available and fault-tolerant applications. To study the viability of using Erlang in embedded systems, we analyze the solutions the language offers, contrasting them with the challenges of developing embedded systems, with a particular focus on resource use. We measure the footprint of the language’s constructs in executing tasks characteristic of end devices, such as gathering, processing and transmitting sensor data. We conduct our experiments with constructs and data of varying sizes to account for the diversity in software complexity of real-world applications. Our measured data can serve as a basis for future research, supporting the design of the software stack for embedded systems. Our results demonstrate that Erlang is an ideal technology for implementing software on embedded systems and a suitable candidate for developing a prototype for a real-world use case.
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spelling doaj-art-3042f62f17bb4fe98b308e05b4a2dad92025-08-20T04:00:51ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-08-012515484310.3390/s25154843Measuring Erlang-Based Scalability and Fault Tolerance on the EdgeDaniel Ferenczi0Gergely Ruda1Melinda Tóth2Faculty of Informatics, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, HungaryEvosoft Hungary Kft., 1117 Budapest, HungaryFaculty of Informatics, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, HungaryEmbedded systems in IoT are expected to be run by reliable, resource-efficient software. Devices on the edge are typically required to communicate with central nodes, and in some setups with each other, constituting a distributed system. The Erlang language, favored for its constructs that support building fault-tolerant, distributed systems, offers solutions to these challenges. Its dynamic type system and higher-level abstractions enable fast development, while also featuring tools for building highly available and fault-tolerant applications. To study the viability of using Erlang in embedded systems, we analyze the solutions the language offers, contrasting them with the challenges of developing embedded systems, with a particular focus on resource use. We measure the footprint of the language’s constructs in executing tasks characteristic of end devices, such as gathering, processing and transmitting sensor data. We conduct our experiments with constructs and data of varying sizes to account for the diversity in software complexity of real-world applications. Our measured data can serve as a basis for future research, supporting the design of the software stack for embedded systems. Our results demonstrate that Erlang is an ideal technology for implementing software on embedded systems and a suitable candidate for developing a prototype for a real-world use case.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4843IoTErlangBEAMAtomVMfault tolerance
spellingShingle Daniel Ferenczi
Gergely Ruda
Melinda Tóth
Measuring Erlang-Based Scalability and Fault Tolerance on the Edge
Sensors
IoT
Erlang
BEAM
AtomVM
fault tolerance
title Measuring Erlang-Based Scalability and Fault Tolerance on the Edge
title_full Measuring Erlang-Based Scalability and Fault Tolerance on the Edge
title_fullStr Measuring Erlang-Based Scalability and Fault Tolerance on the Edge
title_full_unstemmed Measuring Erlang-Based Scalability and Fault Tolerance on the Edge
title_short Measuring Erlang-Based Scalability and Fault Tolerance on the Edge
title_sort measuring erlang based scalability and fault tolerance on the edge
topic IoT
Erlang
BEAM
AtomVM
fault tolerance
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4843
work_keys_str_mv AT danielferenczi measuringerlangbasedscalabilityandfaulttoleranceontheedge
AT gergelyruda measuringerlangbasedscalabilityandfaulttoleranceontheedge
AT melindatoth measuringerlangbasedscalabilityandfaulttoleranceontheedge