MOTIVATE XR transcends the traditional concept of a mere content repository. It stands as a comprehensive, cybersecure platform engineered to foster dynamic collaboration among developers, authors, and users throughout the entire Extended Reality (XR) content lifecycle. At its core lies a containerised headless Content Management System (CMS). This innovative architecture facilitates seamless integration with a wide array of third-party tools through robust Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and an intuitive, user-friendly dashboard, ensuring unparalleled flexibility and interoperability.
Streamlined Development and Deployment with CI/CD
The platform’s adoption of a Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) approach is pivotal to its operational excellence. This methodology guarantees that all updates, new features, and critical fixes are meticulously built, rigorously tested, and efficiently deployed through a highly streamlined and automated process. This commitment to automation yields several significant benefits:
- Higher code quality is ensured through rigorous peer reviews and a comprehensive suite of automated tests, minimising errors and enhancing stability.
- Faster delivery times are achieved by implementing structured branching strategies and robust versioning, accelerating the pace of innovation.
- Increased reliability is maintained via dedicated staging environments that precisely mirror production settings, allowing for thorough testing in a true-to-life context.
- Secure deployments are a fundamental priority, supported by advanced containerisation technologies and stringent access control mechanisms, safeguarding the platform’s integrity.
Robust Staging Environment and Monitoring
UPM’s hosted staging environment, meticulously built on Kubernetes, provides an optimal and secure testing ground. With secured HTTPS connections and automated rollout strategies, it guarantees a seamless and efficient transition from initial code commitment to final deployment, minimising downtime and maximising operational efficiency.
Seamless Tool Integration and Collaboration
To effectively support the diverse and complex needs of the MOTIVATE XR consortium, UPM spearheaded two intensive integration workshops. These collaborative sessions were instrumental in meticulously mapping out the interactions of over a dozen distinct tools with the platform, ranging from sophisticated digital twin platforms to advanced AI semantic processors. Key tools such as KAYROX, Inscape VTS, MIRA, RTXR, and the 3D Videogrammetry System underwent detailed analysis to tailor precise integration pathways, ensuring optimal functionality and data flow. These pathways primarily leverage:
- OAuth-based user-level authentication for secure and granular control over user access.
- API Key server-to-server communications for robust and efficient backend interactions.
- Dashboard-based manual interactions for direct user control and data management.
Comprehensive Quality Assurance Through Automated Testing
To uphold the highest standards of quality across the entire MOTIVATE XR platform, a comprehensive automated testing framework is currently being implemented. This robust framework encompasses a multi-layered approach to testing:
- Unit tests meticulously validate the core components of the CMS and dashboard, ensuring their individual functionalities are flawless.
- Integration tests verify seamless interactions across crucial system elements, including the identity provider, CMS, and database.
- UI and security tests are specifically designed for the web dashboard, guaranteeing both a user-friendly experience and robust protection against vulnerabilities.
The current integration strategy is primarily focused on optimising the staging environment and streamlining development workflows. Looking ahead, the upcoming Deliverable D6.2 will provide a detailed definition of the production CI/CD strategy. This crucial document will meticulously outline how tool authentication, secure data exchange, and live operational management will be meticulously handled within a real-world, production-level setting, ensuring the platform’s long-term stability and success.
Stay tuned, the full report – D6.1: “Continuous Integration Plan and Platform” will soon be available for download.
Author
University of Madrid
Francisco Moreno earned his Computer Management Engineering degree from the Polytechnic University of Madrid in 2008, completing his thesis in Denmark. From 2007 to 2012, he worked in web development, becoming head of development at SrBurns. After two years as a mobile developer in the UK, he joined UPM in 2015 to work on research-based mobile development.
