Before users can interact with computer software, its source code must be converted into executable binaries and software packages, a task handled by specialized tools known as build systems. Build systems are therefore a fundamental component of modern software development and have evolved into complex distributed systems that manage dependencies, optimize resources, and ensure correctness across large-scale projects. Studies have shown that build maintenance can consume up to 27% of a developer's time in large projects.
One of the most challenging aspects of build system maintenance is dependency management. Dependency-related errors account for more than 50% of build errors in large-scale software projects. Missing dependencies, in which a dependency is not declared in the build manifest, can lead to incorrect builds or failures, while redundant dependencies result in unnecessary rebuilds and low build performance. Both types of errors become increasingly difficult to manage as codebases grow in size and complexity. Although several approaches have been proposed to detect dependency errors, many introduce substantial runtime overhead and struggle to achieve the combination of performance and accuracy required for continuous integration environments.
To address this challenge, a research team led by Professor Hironori Washizaki of Waseda University has developed a new method called "mkcheck2." “ Conventional dependency error detection methods that utilize ptrace-based system call tracing, while being accurate, introduce high runtime overhead due to operating in user space, requiring frequent process suspensions and context switches for each system call, ” explains Washizaki. “ In contrast, our approach utilizes eBPF, a lightweight system call monitoring technology, combined with incremental analysis to significantly reduce verification time. ” The team also included Associate Professor Kazunori Sakamoto from Tokyo Online University and Yuta Saito from Waseda University. Their study was published in the Proceedings of the 2026 IEEE/ACM 48th International Conference on Software Engineering , held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from April 12–18, 2026, and was made available online on September 11, 2026. ICSE is the premier conference in the field of software engineering.
mkcheck2 addresses two fundamental challenges in build dependency verification: the performance overhead of system call tracing and the computational cost of dependency graph analysis. It consists of three main components:
By leveraging these components, mkcheck2 demonstrated substantial performance improvements across evaluations involving 300 open-source projects. Compared to existing ptrace-based methods, it reduced build-time overhead by 99.7% (from an average 148.0% overhead to just 0.3%). Notably, the technique reduced the mean analysis time per commit from 1267.49 seconds to just 23.56 seconds, making continuous dependency verification practical in real-world development environments. Even with these performance improvements, mkcheck2 achieved 100% accuracy in detecting missing dependencies and 92% accuracy for redundant dependencies.
“ This technology could play an important role in large-scale software systems, including cloud and AI infrastructure, where rapid verification during continuous integration is essential , ” concludes Washizaki. “ Over the long term, it may contribute to improving software reliability and security by helping developers maintain build system correctness at scale in complex projects. ”
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Reference
Authors: Yuta Saito 1 , Kazunori Sakamoto 2,3,4 , and Hironori Washizaki 1
Title of original paper: Efficient Build Dependency Verification Using eBPF and Incremental Analysis
Journal: Proceedings of the 2026 IEEE/ACM 48th International Conference on Software Engineering
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3744916.3773204
Affiliations:
1 Waseda University, Japan
2 Tokyo Online University, Japan
3 National Institute of Informatics, Japan
4 WillBooster Inc., Japan
About Waseda University
Located in the heart of Tokyo, Waseda University is a leading private research university that has long been dedicated to academic excellence, innovative research, and civic engagement at both the local and global levels since 1882. The University has produced many changemakers in its history, including eight prime ministers and many leaders in business, science and technology, literature, sports, and film. Waseda has strong collaborations with overseas research institutions and is committed to advancing cutting-edge research and developing leaders who can contribute to the resolution of complex, global social issues. The University has set a target of achieving a zero-carbon campus by 2032, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
To learn more about Waseda University, visit https://www.waseda.jp/top/en
About Professor Hironori Washizaki
Hironori Washizaki is a Professor and Associate Dean of the Research Promotion Division at Waseda University, Tokyo, and also serves as a Visiting Professor at the National Institute of Informatics. He earned his Ph.D. from Waseda University in 2003. In addition to his academic roles, he contributes to the industry as a Director and Advisor of eXmotion and SI&C. Washizaki has authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers in international journals and conferences, which have collectively received many citations. His research primarily focuses on AI software engineering, ICT education, and their practical applications in industry and society. He has served as IEEE Computer Society 2025 President, and led professional and educational activities, including the evolution of the Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge. He is currently leading SmartSE, a professional IoT/AI/DX continuing education project. He is appointed as the General Chair of the ICSE 2029 Tokyo.
Experimental study
Not applicable
Efficient Build Dependency Verification Using eBPF and Incremental Analysis
11-Sep-2026
Nothing to declare