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> One more reason for publishing the source code to drive-line software in cars. There is no reason for anyone to publish their trade-secrets. Compliance can

by kw71 11y ago

> One more reason for publishing the source code to drive-line software in cars. There is no reason for anyone to publish their trade-secrets. Compliance can be assured through better testing, which is how this came to light. All the arguments for open source in this market are wonky. They sum up to things like "I want to tamper with my engine controls because I somehow know more than the team of degreed engineers who designed it and got it type-approved" and "I want a generic ECU for all engines because it will be great if everyone had to pay for logic, drivers and other hardware that only a small subset of engines require. Oh and because it would be easier for me to tamper with." I'm glad this situation came out into the press because it will discourage other carmakers from cheating.

jacquesm 11y ago
Or: My life is on the line and I'd like to know what it is exactly that I'm driving. Or: my car does not seem to perform as advertised, is the ECU capable of switching modes in order to pass certain tests? There are many reasons to want to inspect/build the code to the hardware that you already own.
- kw71 11y ago
  You (probably) and I are part of a small minority in the entire universe qualified to do such examination. A lot of bosch source codes got leaked, but if you have or want to write analysis tools for the TriCore ISA to inspect your VW's firmware, you can get the firmware from [1]. [1] http://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4996779 http://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4996779
  - jacquesm 11y ago
    It's pretty normal for any expertise to be limited to a 'small minority'. All it takes to expose trickery like this is for that small minority to do their thing and then write lay-man comprehensible press releases. This is how a lot of stuff gets exposed and for the most part that does not seem to require in-depth understanding of the nitty gritty details by the un-informed, even though they may be directly affected. (In this case: by higher fuel bills to date, reduced re-sale value and possibly a forced significant drop in performance).

by kw71 11y ago

jacquesm 11y ago

Or: My life is on the line and I'd like to know what it is exactly that I'm driving. Or: my car does not seem to perform as advertised, is the ECU capable of switching modes in order to pass certain tests? There are many reasons to want to inspect/build the code to the hardware that you already own.

kw71 11y ago
You (probably) and I are part of a small minority in the entire universe qualified to do such examination. A lot of bosch source codes got leaked, but if you have or want to write analysis tools for the TriCore ISA to inspect your VW's firmware, you can get the firmware from [1]. [1] http://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4996779 http://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4996779
- jacquesm 11y ago
  It's pretty normal for any expertise to be limited to a 'small minority'. All it takes to expose trickery like this is for that small minority to do their thing and then write lay-man comprehensible press releases. This is how a lot of stuff gets exposed and for the most part that does not seem to require in-depth understanding of the nitty gritty details by the un-informed, even though they may be directly affected. (In this case: by higher fuel bills to date, reduced re-sale value and possibly a forced significant drop in performance).