Universal Device Abstraction for IoT: Challenges and Opportunities in Generic API Frameworks

The explosive growth of IoT devices has created a need for universal abstraction mechanisms that can handle the inherent heterogeneity of modern connected systems. Through my analysis of current standards and practical implementations, I examine how Generic Primitive API Frameworks address the fundamental challenge of device interoperability in IoT ecosystems. This paper presents my observations on the evolution of abstraction approaches, from early protocol-specific solutions to contemporary multi-standard frameworks like Matter and oneM2M. While researching this domain, I've identified significant gaps between theoretical standards and practical deployment realities. My analysis reveals that despite substantial progress in standardization efforts, most real-world implementations still require considerable custom integration work. My experience and research suggests that the field has been pursuing an unrealistic goal. Rather than trying to create one-size-fits-all solutions, I think we need frameworks that can adapt their approach based on the specific situation—sometimes prioritizing simplicity, other times focusing on performance. This paper attempts to provide a more critical view of existing abstraction strategies than what I've seen in the literature. I also lay out what I believe should be our research focus: developing abstraction mechanisms that can intelligently adapt to different contexts and technological changes.