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Just talk to Canoncal, or IBM, make a NixOS config, or just do something. How hard can it be? My father’s 5 yo Volkswagen van has an 80’s looking UI, the touchs

Just talk to Canoncal, or IBM, make a NixOS config, or just do something. How hard can it be? My father’s 5 yo Volkswagen van has an 80’s looking UI, the touchscreen is already failing. Going from the normal UI to CarPlay is just jarring, any 2024 Linux distro looks, feels and acts more modern. What are they doing over there?? I could probably whip him up something nicer if only there was just a Nuc or something in there somewhere.

deleted 1y ago
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encrypted_bird 1y ago
While I don't dismiss your general point, I will say that anyone who says "how hard can it be" really needs to consider they are falling victim to the Dunning-Kruger Effect. In my experience, that phrase is (typically) a red flag for the latter.
- MostlyStable 1y ago
  This strikes me very much as one of the things where the answer is probably very simple but also very difficult. I would also guess (completely un-informedly) that because the simple (and probably correct) answer is very difficult, a lot of companies are trying to avoid it by doing things that are more complicated but also easier. And because they are more complicated, it is not immediately obvious why they won't work....but they won't. Which is resulting in the repeated failures.
  - encrypted_bird 1y ago
    Simple to think of, difficult to implement. Yep, I can see it.
- teekert 1y ago
  I'll let you know why I finally get my own van, add DC powered Nuc-like with a touchscreen and just run Gnome on it. Or, to make it more fair, I'll put LineageOS on it. Very touch friendly.
CelestialMystic 1y ago
It isn't just the UI. You need to (re-)read the article. They have a bunch of interconnected systems that need to talk to each other, the existing methods are fit for purpose. These systems also have to work correctly (100% of the time) in a range of conditions and it needs to not drain the battery while the car isn't being used. They also need to start up quick on relatively low end hardware. The car creates a very hostile environment generally for electronics. There is lots of dirt, muck etc that will literally work its way in everywhere. There is also a bunch of regulations that have to work almost internationally. Car companies are not software companies. If you are a software developer not in a software company, things are much more difficult as the organisation just isn't geared to deal with software development generally. Combine this with it being a massively complicated product (modern vehicles are complicated) you are setting yourself up for failure.

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encrypted_bird 1y ago

While I don't dismiss your general point, I will say that anyone who says "how hard can it be" really needs to consider they are falling victim to the Dunning-Kruger Effect. In my experience, that phrase is (typically) a red flag for the latter.

MostlyStable 1y ago
This strikes me very much as one of the things where the answer is probably very simple but also very difficult. I would also guess (completely un-informedly) that because the simple (and probably correct) answer is very difficult, a lot of companies are trying to avoid it by doing things that are more complicated but also easier. And because they are more complicated, it is not immediately obvious why they won't work....but they won't. Which is resulting in the repeated failures.
- encrypted_bird 1y ago
  Simple to think of, difficult to implement. Yep, I can see it.
teekert 1y ago
I'll let you know why I finally get my own van, add DC powered Nuc-like with a touchscreen and just run Gnome on it. Or, to make it more fair, I'll put LineageOS on it. Very touch friendly.

CelestialMystic 1y ago

It isn't just the UI. You need to (re-)read the article. They have a bunch of interconnected systems that need to talk to each other, the existing methods are fit for purpose. These systems also have to work correctly (100% of the time) in a range of conditions and it needs to not drain the battery while the car isn't being used. They also need to start up quick on relatively low end hardware. The car creates a very hostile environment generally for electronics. There is lots of dirt, muck etc that will literally work its way in everywhere. There is also a bunch of regulations that have to work almost internationally. Car companies are not software companies. If you are a software developer not in a software company, things are much more difficult as the organisation just isn't geared to deal with software development generally. Combine this with it being a massively complicated product (modern vehicles are complicated) you are setting yourself up for failure.