I like Linux and used it for over 22 years now, I did some kernel development. I worked for Samsung on TizenOS and I had some discussion with Intel on IVI (their offshoot for automotive). I then went to work for Intel. In my opinion one thing Linux is never going to be is "automotive grade".
There is conflicting set of requirements when developing Linux and in the end it is somewhere on the spectrum of compromise between performance, security, stability, features and development cost.
And I think this is right, Linux is real software for real world and it would be wrong and wasteful for general purpose OS to prioritize one requirement to the exclusion of others.
Unfortunately, an automotive grade software absolutely requires focus on stability and you just can't get it if you also want performance, features and want to do it cheap.
I am also of the opinion that Linux is just way too complex to ever be stable enough for controlling your car. Think about Android. You get an OS tightly managed by Google, running on purpose-built hardware (I have Pixel 2 XL) and it still regularly crashes on me and does otherwise funky things. I have no illusions car industry is going to be able to do any better.
Now, I have nothing against using Linux for everything else in a car (infotainment, navigation, etc.) but I would not trust one that will have anything to do with basic controls.
There is conflicting set of requirements when developing Linux and in the end it is somewhere on the spectrum of compromise between performance, security, stability, features and development cost.
And I think this is right, Linux is real software for real world and it would be wrong and wasteful for general purpose OS to prioritize one requirement to the exclusion of others.
Unfortunately, an automotive grade software absolutely requires focus on stability and you just can't get it if you also want performance, features and want to do it cheap.
I am also of the opinion that Linux is just way too complex to ever be stable enough for controlling your car. Think about Android. You get an OS tightly managed by Google, running on purpose-built hardware (I have Pixel 2 XL) and it still regularly crashes on me and does otherwise funky things. I have no illusions car industry is going to be able to do any better.
Now, I have nothing against using Linux for everything else in a car (infotainment, navigation, etc.) but I would not trust one that will have anything to do with basic controls.