Motoring Discussion > Car software - how many lines of code? Miscellaneous
Thread Author: movilogo Replies: 18

 Car software - how many lines of code? - movilogo
www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/million-lines-of-code/

Your car software is more complicated that Boeing 787's software.

It shows lines of code, that doesn't directly indicates complexity but still a good visual comparison.

 Car software - how many lines of code? - Focusless
And the source of that figure:
www.wired.com/2012/12/automotive-os-war/

I guess it includes the OS, as well as all the stuff running on it.
 Car software - how many lines of code? - Focusless
(...and not running on it)
 Car software - how many lines of code? - Slidingpillar
Somehow I'm not exactly surprised that car makers code is bloatware. They'll just have built on the previous code, time and time again.
 Car software - how many lines of code? - Manatee
>>Somehow I'm not exactly surprised that car makers code is bloatware

Or that the code for a 787 for example is much tighter.
 Car software - how many lines of code? - WillDeBeest
Planes gotta fly. All those lines of code are heavy...aren't they?

(I remember years ago persuading a sales colleague that his swanky new ultralight laptop would get heavier as he filled the disk with data. I think he caught on when I suggested he order the reinforced shoulder strap for his bag.)
 Car software - how many lines of code? - zippy
>> Planes gotta fly. All those lines of code are heavy...aren't they?
>>

Errm:

www.cultofmac.com/299069/ipad-filled-apps-weighs-one-nothing-installed/


:-)
 Car software - how many lines of code? - WillDeBeest
Errm indeed. That's flash, not magnetic storage.
}:---)

But what about this? Can we trust these people to get difficult sums right when they fluff the easy ones?
For 4GB of data, the difference between full and empty is 10-18 grams. For a 64GB iPad, it would be 12 times that.
 Car software - how many lines of code? - DP
I was told by a BMW dealer a few years back that a general software update on an F30 320d takes 7 hours. Seems staggering to me, but there you go.
 Car software - how many lines of code? - zippy
>> I was told by a BMW dealer a few years back that a general software
>> update on an F30 320d takes 7 hours. Seems staggering to me, but there you
>> go.
>>

Probably via floppy disks!
 Car software - how many lines of code? - ....
>> Probably via floppy disks!

Entertainment systems are generally done through the USB port, the car management systems through the OBD II port. The second is much quicker than the first.
Last edited by: VxFan on Thu 24 Sep 15 at 23:00
 Car software - how many lines of code? - Zero
>> I was told by a BMW dealer a few years back that a general software
>> update on an F30 320d takes 7 hours. Seems staggering to me, but there you
>> go.

Thats the time they bill you, not the time it takes.
 Car software - how many lines of code? - spamcan61
>> I was told by a BMW dealer a few years back that a general software
>> update on an F30 320d takes 7 hours. Seems staggering to me, but there you
>> go.
>>

They must be using floppy disks.....
 Car software - how many lines of code? - tyrednemotional
...well, they've got to hide the emissions test avoidance code somewhere.....

#needleinahaystack

;-)
 Car software - how many lines of code? - Fursty Ferret
Most of the entertainment platform is running on a Linux derivative - discovered this the hard way when I tried to use a hack found on the web to upgrade the Insignia from basic to luxury navigation.

So Linux + interface + car comms + multiple ECUs + Bluetooth modules etc etc etc gives you a vast code base quite quickly. I suspect the actual ECU that governs the engine is a fairly tight design.

If you buy a new Airbus A320 it comes factory fitted with a floppy drive for software updates.
Last edited by: Fursty Ferret on Thu 24 Sep 15 at 13:02
 Car software - how many lines of code? - rtj70
>> Most of the entertainment platform is running on a Linux derivative

Fords and FIAT's use Windows Embedded for this. VAG use QNX (as owned and used by Blackberry).
 Car software - how many lines of code? - movilogo
Where exactly software is used in car?

I can understand heavy usage for transmission if it is an auto.

Good amount of usage for engine management.

But where else?

Let's ignore "infotainment" as that is often now powered by a mini Android/Linux/Windows system of its own.

Last edited by: movilogo on Fri 25 Sep 15 at 15:11
 Car software - how many lines of code? - Fursty Ferret
- engine management
- transmission
- ABS / ESP
- body control (windows, lighting, seats etc)
- climate control
- OBD interface
- airbags
- cruise control (loads of code if adaptive)
- lane assist
- road sign recognition
- adaptive headlights
- automatic parking
etc etc
 Car software - how many lines of code? - Zero
>> - engine management
>> - transmission
>> - ABS / ESP
>> - body control (windows, lighting, seats etc)
>> - climate control
>> - OBD interface
>> - airbags
>> - cruise control (loads of code if adaptive)
>> - lane assist
>> - road sign recognition
>> - adaptive headlights
>> - automatic parking
>> etc etc

adaptive suspension
Power Steering
electronic handbrake

>> Where exactly software is used in car?

and given that every electrical function above is now linked and controlled by a local area network, the CANbus, where would you like to begin?
Last edited by: Zero on Fri 25 Sep 15 at 16:54
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