Confirmed….Scout using Rivian’s software…

[IHScout]

When it comes to software the people writing the code are usually just focussed on making something work rather than future maintenance and tech debt inflation. The resources needed to keep something working and secure in the future often far outweigh the resources needed to build it in the first place. So like you say, something seems like it should take hours to build and ends up taking months. But this is just the start, the future maintenance often balloons exponentially! Rivian’s software is still new, but in years to come they will probably be hiring increasing numbers of engineers just to crush bugs and patch security vulnerabilities. The older the codebase gets the more complex it will become to add new features. It’s typical for developers seeing the ever growing problem to tell their managers it would be more cost efficient to start again from scratch and re-write with modern APIs/updated language etc than just keep going with the current codebase. This is called “tech debt” and it’s one reason the big tech companies have thousands of engineers.

I have very little confidence that car companies can take on tech debt. Just a few weeks ago security researchers found they could hack Kia vehicles via the web, knowing just the license plate number, unlock them, remotely start the engine and track their location! We can only expect more of this kind of thing.

Personally, I’m a tech guy, I want lots of it. But I don’t want tech for tech’s sake, it must only be used where it adds real utility. I believe Scout should tightly limit the scope of their tech features. Don’t take on too much, and don’t try to replicate things that CarPlay and Android Auto do. Let CarPlay do the in-car entertainment and apps heavy lifting and let Apple take care of the related tech debt. Then Scout can focus its limited resources on doing cool tech stuff with the vehicle, but only stuff that’s actually useful.

Well said. My only addition is a strong Quality Assurance (QA) team with a mission to break the code before it is released. A bank of automated test case plus new ones to test new capabilities. VW was smart to partner with Rivian to solve this problem. Agree Scout needs to focus on the cool stuff using the KISS principle.

 

[wheelsee]

I applaud competition…and if you make a truly great UI people will use it.

But that doesn’t mean it should be forced on people…right now CarPlay/AA both have a lot of pluses(robust app support being chief among them in my book). I can’t see any other company coming out with an App Store that developers will suddenly start developing apps for.

The example I’ve used as of late is Target adding CarPlay support to its app. If anyone has done online shopping for curbside pickup at Target you’ll know this is a godsend. Is it an app I use every day? No. But could you see Target writing apps for multiple car manufacturers? No.

Same with Pocket Casts, it’s the preferred podcasting app I use. The developer isn’t going to take time to port it over to car OSes.

 

[jole]

Apple CarPlay and Car Key are both must. Having the "new generation" Car Play would be amazing.

Part of the reason I have resisted temptation of buying a Rivian has been that it lacks CarPlay. Please Scout, do not make the same mistake.

 

[Logan]

Apple CarPlay and Car Key are both must. Having the "new generation" Car Play would be amazing.

Part of the reason I have resisted temptation of buying a Rivian has been that it lacks CarPlay. Please Scout, do not make the same mistake.

I actually really, really like Rivians.

One strike against them was their "no carplay" stance. And now that they've declared war on buttons, thats another strike.

 

[Jkew]

Sadly, lack of CarPlay might be a deal breaker for me. It’s just too useful for allowing me to do things like join zoom calls during my commute, or plan a route outside my car. I don’t think car companies belong in the infotainment business, and I think more non-critical functions should be controllable through car play like AM/FM radio and getting the charge state.

I know some Tesla fans swear they don’t need it, but I also see a lot of those same drivers with dash mounts for their phones.

 

[Scoutsie]

CarPlay and Android Auto: asked and answered (a few times) by forum members at the launch.

https://scoutmotors.community.forum/threads/ideas-for-scout-engineers.967/page-2#post-10318