KEcoLab

Quick Links

User Documentation

• User Guide

• Usage Scenario Script

• Access Result

Developer Documentation

• Project Structure

• CI/CD Pipeline

• Report Generation

• Contribution Guidelines

Introduction

The Remote Eco Lab project aims to provide a streamlined process for measuring software energy consumption remotely using a CI/CD pipeline. By automating the measurement process and integrating with the OSCAR tool, developers can make informed decisions to improve code efficiency and obtain software eco-certification with the Blue Angel. For further details on measuring the energy consumption of software, Use the links below to navigate to each section:

• Getting Started: Learn what KEcolab is, why it matters, and the differences between remote and manual testing processes.
• User Documentation: Detailed instructions for users on creating usage scenario scripts, submitting merge requests, and accessing test results.
• Developer Documentation: Information on project structure, CI/CD integration, and contribution guidelines.
• About Us: Background information on the project, contributors, contact details, and meeting notes.

Getting Started

What is KEcolab?

KEcolab is KDE’s dedicated platform for measuring the energy consumption of software. In our digital age, technology’s material footprint is often hidden by the compactness of devices and the “invisible” nature of the infrastructure (like data centers and underwater cables). Despite appearances, every application runs on physical hardware that requires energy. KEcolab’s mission is to expose these hidden energy costs and provide developers with accurate, repeatable data so they can optimize their software for better energy efficiency.

The Hidden Cost of Digital Technology

Often, users underestimate the material footprint of digital technology due to the miniaturization of equipment and the concealed nature of global infrastructures. Every software application contributes to energy consumption because it runs on hardware that requires power—power that is generated using resources and often contributes to carbon emissions. As digital services become more ubiquitous, the cumulative energy consumption—and consequently, the environmental impact—grows, making sustainability a critical concern in software development.