xlowert

Xlowert is an open-source framework designed to enable cross-layer optimization in low-power edge computing and Internet of Things environments. It provides a modular software stack that coordinates application, transport, and network layers to improve energy efficiency, latency, and reliability on resource-constrained devices.

Designed with a plug-in architecture, Xlowert centers a policy engine that allows developers to specify goals for energy use, performance, and reliability. Core components include an energy manager, a task scheduler, a transport shim, and protocol adapters. The framework emphasizes event-driven operation and policy-based control, enabling dynamic adaptation to changing conditions such as battery state or network quality. Implementations exist primarily for Linux-based systems and select embedded OSes, written in C with optional Python bindings.

Xlowert originated in academic research on cross-layer optimization for IoT in the 2010s, with the first public release in the early 2020s. Since then, it has attracted a community of contributors and several platform extensions.

It is used in sensor networks, smart buildings, and industrial IoT to reduce energy consumption and improve responsiveness in variable network environments. Reported benefits include lower energy use and improved latency, though integration can be complex and requires careful safety and interoperability considerations.

The project is released under an open-source license, with ongoing contributions from researchers and developers. Documentation, tutorials, and example applications accompany the project to aid adoption.

See also: cross-layer design, Internet of Things, energy-efficient computing, edge computing, embedded Linux.