CommonCode: A Code-Reuse Platform for Wireless Network Experimentation

Abstract

Experimentation of a wireless network protocol over the air is of significant interest. However, it is more rarely performed than simulation because of the difficulties in coding and debugging as well as lack of scalability and repeatability. In this article, the concept of a code-reuse platform making use of a simulation code directly for real experiments is revisited as an efficient and easy means of experimentation. Furthermore, an architecture and key components of an idealistic code-reuse platform are suggested, and then CommonCode, the most advanced code-reuse platform, is proposed. Through extensive simulations and experiments using Common-Code for the same codes, we demonstrate that CommonCode is valid and accurate in terms of protocol performance, and simultaneously fast and easy in terms of protocol development.