Greencoding

Shorter computing times and less data traffic significantly speed up programs and reduce power consumption accordingly. uTraxx has deliberately designed and optimized its ERP system in this way.

Digitalization reduces costs in companies. This is achieved, for example, because machines calculate more reliably and faster than humans and because artificial intelligence can be used to make processes more efficient. On the other hand, the use of digital infrastructures, especially servers, but also communication networks and end devices, consumes large amounts of energy. This results in high electricity costs and also has a negative impact on the environment and climate.

uTraxx is also playing a pioneering role in this area.

Performance improves and power consumption automatically decreases. Three aspects in particular are crucial when developing sustainable software:

Efficient coding
Optimized, intelligently written algorithms require as little computing time as possible to execute programs. uTraxx goes one step further and has created a library for all standard functions that an application may require. “This prevents every programmer from writing different code for the same function,” says Urs Vogel. The uTraxx programs automatically access the most efficient, energy-optimized code via the platform. The programming language also plays an important role: Java Script, for example, always requires an interpreter, which takes up computing time. Even for dynamic programming, uTraxx uses only compiled languages that can be executed directly, thus saving additional energy.

Embedded database system
uTraxx also takes an energy-efficient approach to data exchange: instead of using power-hungry SQL servers, which first have to interpret queries from the client and then translate them into commands, uTraxx accesses the data records directly. The client and database server, or application and database server, exchange their data directly in the same memory area – the database is “embedded.” This eliminates the need to transfer all data to the client; the client only receives the results of the process, but not the complete data records, which it then uses for calculation. This saves time and power.

Reduced data volume
In recent years, uTraxx has further reduced the amount of data transported and developed a cache algorithm that uses “deep inspection” to analyze which data must be transported from the server to the client. Only values that have been changed are transferred. An unchanged user interface is loaded directly from the cache. Cloud solutions thus generate 99% less data traffic and run much faster. They also have the advantage that resources are shared with others and thus better utilized. In general, uTraxx programs only require power when they need to be executed.

Both large and small companies can save a significant amount of energy by using energy-efficient devices and software that produces efficient code and reduces unnecessary data transfer.