Let's discuss the source for the GPLed parts of Tesla cars

by warp on 10/30/2019, 6:47 PM with 103 comments
  • by weinzierl on 10/30/2019, 8:33 PM

    Some time ago there was a story about how BMW sent a DVD to a guy who asked for the GPL software in his i3 (BMW's electric car)[1]. It was also discussed on HN [2].

    [1] https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2016/03/bmw-are-complying-with-the-...

    [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11384968

  • by esotericn on 10/30/2019, 7:33 PM

    Chucked over an email.

    Not sure if this is specifically relevant, but just in case, I have a (minor) commit in BusyBox which is licensed under GPLv2.

    I'd love to have Tesla send me my source. ;)

  • by sys_64738 on 10/30/2019, 11:41 PM

    Has anybody emailed Musk directly about this? As somebody who made his money on the back of the tech industry he should get the need to give back.

  • by _Microft on 10/30/2019, 8:34 PM

    Honest question: if someone modifies the software of their car, will it still be street-legal?

  • by arshbot on 10/31/2019, 4:30 AM

    Unfortunately, this is par for the course for any large public "tech" company. Releasing their source proactively isn't a source of profit so it is simply not done until people have to beg for it.

  • by wil421 on 10/30/2019, 7:31 PM

    When will you be able to hack your car to get better performance? EVs kinda take the hotrodding fun out of cars. Being able to play with the software would bring a part of it back.

  • by alexis_fr on 10/30/2019, 9:54 PM

    GPL is transitive, so does that mean all software in the Tesla becomes GPL? If not, please explain. GPL has no linkage/classpath exception.

  • by ex3ndr on 10/30/2019, 7:20 PM

    Just curious what prohibits Tesla to stop shipping updates for owners who will demand sources?

  • by kevin_thibedeau on 10/30/2019, 7:28 PM

    Even with source how does one relink their GPL'ed code and replace the Tesla binaries?

  • by Google234 on 10/30/2019, 8:34 PM

    This is why the GPL is toxic. If you include it your software someone can request your source code and then compile it and release it for free.

  • by drewg123 on 10/30/2019, 7:53 PM

    This will probably get downvoted, but this kind of thing is why companies avoid the GPL. There will be people inside the company saying they would not be having these issues if they'd have used a BSD based OS (like Sony, Apple, etc) or a completely closed source OS.