4 ms·

Ftlog not another round of 'let software do it', please. How about, when a couple of dead simple switches will do it, DO NOT stuff an embedded Linux SoC in. A

Ftlog not another round of 'let software do it', please. How about, when a couple of dead simple switches will do it, DO NOT stuff an embedded Linux SoC in. A toaster, for example, should not require one single bit of software. Cars. Omg. Do we have to turn them into rolling smart phones? DO we? I dread the day when my car has to OTA update every 3 weeks. There should be no need for that. Yeah, I can see you might want something to handle engine timing or active suspension. But I do not need or want all these 'apps'. We seriously need some sanity in product design these days. Don't blame engineers. Blame the product designers.

ineedasername 5y ago
Then how will you listen Spotify while you drive? I'm not about to run a wire to the aux-in on a dumb radio like some kind of savage from 2013.
- selfhoster11 5y ago
  Having a dumb Bluetooth receiver wired into your stereo system is not very complicated, and mainly foolproof. Let the end user (moreover, force them to) pick which end device of their own they want to use to stream music to the car.
TheAceOfHearts 5y ago
Cars have been increasingly more computerized during the last two decades. If car firmwares were more open it would be possible to deploy software improvements to reduce emissions and increase performance. I agree that having to update too frequently would be a hassle, but we could make far better use of existing vehicles if they were more easily upgradeable and updateable.
- selfhoster11 5y ago
  > If car firmwares were more open it would be possible to deploy software improvements to reduce emissions and increase performance. Better yet - have the actual "car" layer (steering, acceleration, brakes, safety critical parts like airbags and ABS) entirely self-contained on a separate system that's written in a safety-critical language. Force all the "extras" (AC, seats, radio, windshield wipers, maybe blinkers etc.) to be controllable via a user-supplied module that might as well run on a consumer-grade electronics motherboard. That way the part of the car that gets you from A to B gets to benefit from being self-contained and as optimised for emissions/performance as possible for the time the car was manufactured. The part of the car that merely provides comfort and convenience is something the users are free to monkey about with because it doesn't compromise any regulatory or safety standards.

ineedasername 5y ago

Then how will you listen Spotify while you drive? I'm not about to run a wire to the aux-in on a dumb radio like some kind of savage from 2013.

selfhoster11 5y ago
Having a dumb Bluetooth receiver wired into your stereo system is not very complicated, and mainly foolproof. Let the end user (moreover, force them to) pick which end device of their own they want to use to stream music to the car.

TheAceOfHearts 5y ago

Cars have been increasingly more computerized during the last two decades. If car firmwares were more open it would be possible to deploy software improvements to reduce emissions and increase performance. I agree that having to update too frequently would be a hassle, but we could make far better use of existing vehicles if they were more easily upgradeable and updateable.

selfhoster11 5y ago
> If car firmwares were more open it would be possible to deploy software improvements to reduce emissions and increase performance. Better yet - have the actual "car" layer (steering, acceleration, brakes, safety critical parts like airbags and ABS) entirely self-contained on a separate system that's written in a safety-critical language. Force all the "extras" (AC, seats, radio, windshield wipers, maybe blinkers etc.) to be controllable via a user-supplied module that might as well run on a consumer-grade electronics motherboard. That way the part of the car that gets you from A to B gets to benefit from being self-contained and as optimised for emissions/performance as possible for the time the car was manufactured. The part of the car that merely provides comfort and convenience is something the users are free to monkey about with because it doesn't compromise any regulatory or safety standards.