# Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium Take our developer capabilities and learnings into your product or learn how to build a product into our ecosystem. The views expressed on this page are the engineers' own and does not necessarily reflect the views of the company. - Medium This is one page of public article previews, not the complete archive. Follow Next page to continue. Summaries are not the original full articles. ## Use Google Play Instant To Handle Deep Links -- A Real World Scenario DevFeed: [Use Google Play Instant To Handle Deep Links -- A Real World Scenario]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Mehdi Satei Published: 2024-11-07T12:29:53Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [Google Play](), [App](), [Authentication](), [account]() Tags: [account](), [android](), [app](), [apps](), [authentication](), [deep-link-android](), [google](), [google-play](), [google-play-instant]() ### AI overview This developer article describes the deep-linking and authentication challenges in the Volvo Cars App's co-driving invitation flow. It explains the intended user journey when recipients have the app installed, are signed in, lack an account, or need to install the app from Google Play. ### Source excerpt Use Google Play Instant To Handle Deep Links -- A Real World ScenarioDiving Deep into Deep Linking with Volvo Cars App Picture this: You've just settled into the driver's seat of your brand-new Volvo car. You swiftly install the Volvo Cars Application, set up an account, and link your car. The experience is exhilarating, and you can't wait to share the same experience and let your partner or your children to co-drive and relish the same thrill. With Volvo Cars App you can do this now! If you're a Volvo car owner, you can now generate a co-drive invitation link, send it over, and once they tap on it, they're all set. From a user's perspective, it sounds dreamy. But, if you switch the lens to that of a developer building this feature, the narrative takes a rather, let's say, 'complex' turn. Tapping on the generated co-drive invitation link is something that we know as deep link. Deep linking is the art of taking a user directly to a particular screen inside the app via a universal URL (a.k.a App Link). It sounds straightforward, but implementing it can give even seasoned developers a run for their money. One significant speed bump in many apps is authentication. Before accessing content, in most cases, a user needs to be authenticated. So, when clicking on the app link, the user needs to have the app installed and be signed in, and only then can the app navigate them directly to the specific content. Now, throw in the unpleasant scenario of the user not having an account, and the plot thickens. The app must intelligently handle the sign-up dance before gracefully resuming the deep link dance. Despite being a bit challenging, when the user taps on a deep link, Volvo Cars App could handle the authentication flow. But at Volvo Cars, we also throw the curveball of "Can we deliver a great user experience for a co-driving scenario, with the generated deep link for the users who don't have our app installed?" If a user taps on a deep link without having the app installed, gui ## Secure your terraform.state file with Terraform Vault Backend DevFeed: [Secure your terraform.state file with Terraform Vault Backend]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Zalan Blenessy Published: 2024-10-29T08:45:07Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [Terraform](), [HashiCorp Vault](), [Amazon S3](), [DevOps](), [HTTP](), [CI/CD]() Tags: [automotive-industry](), [aws-s3](), [backend-development](), [ci-cd](), [devops](), [hashicorp-vault](), [http](), [s3](), [security](), [software-development](), [terraform](), [vault]() ### AI overview This article introduces the Terraform Vault Backend, a specialized Terraform HTTP backend for storing terraform.state files in HashiCorp Vault. It explains why shared remote state is needed, how Terraform state works, and why state files containing secrets may require more secure storage than ordinary blob stores such as AWS S3. ### Source excerpt tl;dr: The Terraform Vault Backend is the missing complement to the Terraform Vault Provider. Volvo Cars has since 2017 strategically grown its software engineering organisation. Today, we have thousands of software engineers and hundreds of DevOps engineers to facilitate efficient tooling and workflows for software development and release. In my role as a CI Architect at the Complete Software Factory (CSwF) department, I am accountable for the CI/CD systems at CSwF. Most of our services are hosted in "the Cloud" and terraform is the most popular tool used by our DevOps engineers to provision Cloud infrastructure. This article introduces the Terraform Vault Backend, a specialised Terraform HTTP Backend which allows you to store your terraform.state file in HashiCorp Vault. This is relevant if your terraform.state contains secrets, too sensitive to be stored in ordinary blob stores like AWS S3. Terraform is a tool that generates infrastructure from code. Given some configuration, running terraform apply makes Terraform intelligently carry out the actions needed to create the desired infrastructure. For example, you can put the following configuration in main.tf: resource "local_file" "somefile" { content = "foo bar baz" filename = "${path.module}/somefile.txt" } Then apply it with: $ terraform init $ terraform apply Out comes a file called somefile.txt with the content foo bar baz. You can inspect it with: $ cat somefile.txt foo bar baz It also creates a bunch of other files in your folder, most notably the terraform.state file. This file reflects the current state of the "infrastructure" (somefile.txt), which has been provisioned for you. Terraform is idempotent, which means that running terraform apply a second time, with the same input configuration, will not change anything as somefile.txt has already been added to terraform.state . Sharing Terraform State It is not enough to share your Terraform configuration files with your colleagues, you also need to share th ## How to run postmortems effectively? DevFeed: [How to run postmortems effectively?]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Peter Bergman Published: 2024-09-17T08:49:33Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [incident](), [systems](), [context]() Tags: [blameless-culture](), [errors](), [how-to](), [incident](), [mistakes](), [organization](), [outages](), [postmortem](), [postmortem-documentation](), [postmortem-report](), [processes](), [retrospective](), [retrospectives](), [software-development](), [systems](), [teams]() ### AI overview This article explains how to conduct effective, blameless postmortems after incidents such as outages, production bugs, or service disruptions. It emphasizes identifying root causes, examining systemic factors and context, and improving processes rather than assigning individual blame. ### Source excerpt Incidents are inevitable. As we all know, system outages, bugs in production, or service disruptions, can all have significant impacts. When that happens, the company pays the price. It's better to see it as a chance to learn instead of pointing fingers. This is where postmortems come into play. A postmortem, also referred to as an incident analysis, or retrospective, is a vital practice for understanding what went wrong, why it happened, and how to avoid such occurrences in the future. Understanding postmortemsWhat is a postmortem and why is it important? An incident postmortem is a review process carried out after an incident. Its purpose is to determine the root causes and identify strategies to avoid similar future incidents. What does blameless mean? In a blameless postmortem, the emphasis is on learning from mistakes and improving processes, rather than pointing fingers. By focusing on systems, components, roles, processes, procedures, and not individuals, we can foster a blameless culture where teams feel safe to openly discuss incidents and contribute to meaningful solutions. The aim here is to reframe the discussion to focus on the systemic factors that contributed to the incident which let teams uncover deeper insights and implement more effective solutions. What about the human factor? Even though many incidents can be attributed to being caused one way or the other by humans, due to the human factor, so to speak, it is important that we aim to shift the conversation towards understanding the "second stories" behind the incident. The "first story" of human error focuses on individual mistakes, while the "second story" examines the systemic factors contributing to errors. To do so, we focus on the underlying factors and context that may not be immediately apparent. Through the use of "second stories", human error is seen as the effect of systemic vulnerabilities deeper inside the organization. If we assume that all actions are made in good faith, then what ## Volvo Cars' First Open Source In-Car App Simplifies Life for Diabetes Patients DevFeed: [Volvo Cars' First Open Source In-Car App Simplifies Life for Diabetes Patients]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Bure Råman Vinnå Published: 2024-08-26T13:39:52Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [App](), [Open Source](), [data]() Tags: [andriod](), [app](), [automotive-software](), [data](), [diabetes-solutions](), [open-source](), [open-source-software](), [technology]() ### AI overview The article introduces Volvo Cars' first open-source in-car app, intended to help drivers and passengers with diabetes manage challenges while traveling. It also describes the author's experience with type 1 diabetes and the motivation for developing the app, but the supplied article text is incomplete. ### Source excerpt Data from 2021 shows that 537 million adults are living with diabetes. This is 1 in every 10 person globally that lives with this condition meaning a disease of epidemic proportions. Research shows that drivers with diabetes are more likely to get in car accidents than drivers without diabetes. So how can we help drivers or passengers with diabetes to have full control while navigating the complicated life with diabetes when they're behind the wheel? To give or get the right assistance, at the right time, to take control and make the road safer for all. In this story I will tell you about the journey I have had here at Volvo Cars as an engineer, trying to solve challenges I, and million of others, every day encounter. From the very beginning So lets start from the beginning. When I was 17 years old I started to feel symptoms that most Type 1 diabetic encounters. For me it started with that I got terrible tiered. Even if I slept well I couldn't shake of the dizziness, my body hearted and I was constantly thirsty. I tried to overlook the symptoms, and as a teenager, thinking that I could overcome everything just continued as normal. Days went by and I tried to adopt, while my blood sugar level slowly increased. It was first when we were about to buy lunch packages for our school trip that I realized I needed help. When others bought a 50 centiliters juice pack at the grocery store, I ended up buying two liters. After that day I decided to visit my doctor, who quickly thanks to a blood glucose meter, found out that I had type 1 diabetes. A new chapter in my life began. Since that day I have been constantly checking my blood sugar level, to understand what insulin dose I need to inject. While adopting my way of life to keep this roller-coaster in check. Which I promise you is not easy. In the beginning I used two different types of syringe injections several times per day, along with spot blood sugar readings from my finger tip. Today as the technology evolved I instead ## Agnostic Build System: Powertrain build DevFeed: [Agnostic Build System: Powertrain build]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Johannes Foufas Published: 2024-06-18T09:48:37Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [Embedded Software Dev](), [Python](), [GitHub Actions](), [JSON](), [Testing]() Tags: [automotive](), [automotive-software](), [autosar](), [build-system](), [c-coding](), [continuous-integration](), [embedded](), [json](), [python](), [release](), [testing]() ### AI overview The article announces Volvo Cars' Powertrain Build project, a Python-based build system for automotive embedded software. It supports moving source code between POSIX-based and legacy embedded ECU targets, Software in the Loop testing, and continuous integration through Zuul. It also describes JSON-based project, base, and unit configuration files, unit tests, and HTML documentation. ### Source excerpt Powering Volvo Cars' Software Builds We are thrilled to announce the release of the Volvo Cars Powertrain Build project, now available on OpenDev! As a build system tailored for embedded software development using DSpace Target Link or Mathworks Embedded coder, this project is set to improve the way we as automotive embedded engineers handle our code bases. The idea is to make it easy to move between different targets, enable Software in the Loop (SIL) testing, and streamline our continuous integration (CI) processes. Powertrain build offers to efficiently move embedded source code between different embedded targets, both Posix based and old school embedded ECU's. This build system does what AUTOSAR never did, and is a tool that prepares us for the future of the car OS. Check out the article below to learn more about AUTOSAR: The reality of AUTOSAR and the way forward Our Powertrain Build project is designed to work harmoniously with the Zuul CI system. This ensures that all code changes are automatically tested and validated, providing continuous feedback to developers and maintaining the integrity of our codebase. What is it? The build system is written in Python for ease of use and flexibility, and these are the build options. py -3.10 pybuild.wrapper --build ABC_123 Projects are defined in .json using Project, base and Unit configs. The project config file contains project specific configuration settings and references to other configuration files. The base config file shares the same structure as the project config file and can be used for non project-specific configuration settings and default values, these could for instance be diagnostic core dummy file names. The units config file contains information about included software units and scheduling rasters. The software units are executed in the order they are defined within each time raster definition. { "SampleTimes": { "VcExt10ms": 0.01 }, "VcExt10ms": [ "VcDebug", "VcCarCfg", ] } Schedulers are not include ## Coppercomm -- One interface to unite them all DevFeed: [Coppercomm -- One interface to unite them all]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Kenneth Karlsson Published: 2024-05-27T06:54:56Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [interfaces](), [Testing](), [Python](), [Library](), [ssh](), [Wireless Debugging]() Tags: [adb](), [bridge](), [communication](), [interfaces](), [libraries](), [open-source](), [python](), [ssh](), [test](), [testing]() ### AI overview The article introduces Coppercomm, a Python-based bridge intended to let teams share and rerun the same test cases across organizations. It maps logical or physical interfaces to communication methods such as SSH, serial, and Android Debug Bridge, hiding interface-specific details from test cases through configuration. ### Source excerpt Coppercomm -- One interface to unite them allHow to share test cases across organizations and companiesBackgroundInterface overview Have you ever faced the challenge of reusing test cases when testing the same Device Under Test (DUT) across different organizations and companies? You are not alone. One of the main problems is the different libraries used. And it is not at all unusual for an organization to use different libraries for the same purpose. It could be that one team is not aware of the existence of a library, and decides to create a new one. Suddenly, there are two libraries doing the same thing! It's like having two different keys to the same lock. The problem grows when there is a need to share the same test cases between different companies and organizations. You might want to run a specific test case before delivering to a customer, and then after the customer has applied some changes, they might want to re-run the same test case again to make sure that it still works. You would want to run the same test case, the same way. This is where Coppercomm comes into play. It is written in Python and functions as a bridge between the host and DUT, for different types of communication interfaces, like SSH, serial, and Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This enables us to run the same test case at different departments without modifying the test case, as long as the test case is using Coppercomm and the Coppercomm library is available on the host. How Coppercomm worksCoppercomm overview Coppercomm is pretty basic. You create a configuration file that maps the different interfaces to a logical or physical interface. The configuration file is then used under the hood by Coppercomm. This hides the mapping from the user, and the test cases only need to specify what type of interface they want to use. Voilà! The host communicates with the DUT, without any specifics in the test case. Open sourcing Coppercomm"Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow" - Linus Torvalds Sharin ## How we are driving up the quality of internal technical documentation at Volvo Cars DevFeed: [How we are driving up the quality of internal technical documentation at Volvo Cars]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Gary Niemen Published: 2024-02-26T11:39:27Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [Documentation](), [Developer experience](), [engineering-culture]() Tags: [backstage](), [blog-post](), [developer-experience](), [docs-as-code](), [documentation](), [engineering](), [platform-engineering](), [technical-documentation](), [technical-writing](), [writing]() ### AI overview The article describes how a small technical-writing team at Volvo Cars is improving the quality of internal technical documentation for more than 4,500 software engineers. It presents treating documentation like code as one part of a broader approach to scaling technical writing. ### Source excerpt How we are driving up the quality of internal technical documentation at Volvo Cars -- with just a few technical writersTreating docs like code is part of it -- but not all of itGenerated by Deep Dream Generator by Author There are many components to a great developer experience. One of them, I think we can all agree, is to have quality internal technical documentation. But how to get to that place? Few engineering organisations prioritise recruiting technical writers above software engineers. And software engineers, typically, and perfectly understandably, prefer to be coding rather than writing. The answer in the tech industry of today -- is to find a way to scale tech writing. Consider this... Many years ago, when I was working as a technical writer at one of the world's leading IT companies, the sacred ratio was one tech writer for 8-10 developers. Later, when I moved on and started working as a documentation lead in FinTech, I tried to get the company to implement this ratio -- but, alas, it was never going to fly. We settled on about 1 to 30. I was not too pleased. If only I had known what was to come. When I started working in big tech, it was more like 1 to 1000. And now at Volvo Cars, it is -- well that's what this blog post is all about. How just a few technical writers (two within a centralised developer experience function and one focusing on a specific part of the organisation) are driving up the quality of internal technical documentation among 4500+ software engineers at Volvo Cars. (What's the ratio now, huh?) As we'll describe in this blog post, moving to treating docs like code is one key component of scaling technical writing, but not the only one. Implement docs like code About five years ago when at a previous company, I stumbled across Google technical writing manager, Riona MacNamara's talk from the 2015 Write the Docs conference, Documentation, Disrupted: How Two Technical Writers Changed Google Engineering Culture. Riona was talking about solving p ## What could quantum computing do for Automotive Companies? DevFeed: [What could quantum computing do for Automotive Companies?]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Bahram Ganjipour Published: 2024-01-29T08:05:33Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [Quantum Computing](), [Combinatorial optimization](), [datasets]() Tags: [algorithms](), [automotive](), [automotive-industry](), [combinatorial-optimization](), [ev-battery](), [machine-learning](), [quantum-computing](), [simulation]() ### AI overview The article discusses potential real-world uses of quantum computing for automotive companies, including constrained combinatorial optimization, quantum algorithms compatible with NISQ hardware, quantum programming, and simulation. It also describes how machine learning and large datasets relate to data-intensive business problems, while noting current limitations and the need to compare quantum and classical performance. ### Source excerpt In the final post of this series on the rise of quantum computing, Bahram Ganjipour, a senior software engineer and quantum computing lead at Volvo Cars, goes over some of the real-world use cases of this fast-moving technology -- as well as the current limitations on its potential. What exactly can quantum computing assist us with? As highlighted in the first post, one of the main hurdles for any organization when it comes to quantum computing (QC) is the need to comprehend the business potential of quantum computing. This understanding is crucial for making informed decisions regarding the adoption of quantum computing technologies. Early adoption of quantum computing can help companies in navigating this complex landscape and distinguishing between hype and real opportunities. By embracing QC early on, organizations can gain a competitive edge and position themselves at the forefront of quantum advancements. Real-world use cases of quantum computing and Potential game-changer: When it comes to tackling real-world business problems using quantum computing we need to consider several elements listed below: - How to map a business use case into a format that can be handled on quantum hardware. Constrained combinatorial optimization problems may be encoded in a constraint-free form. - Being aware of and selecting quantum algorithms compatible with NISQ hardware. - Developing programming skills for quantum devices. Both direct proficiency in a certain language and conceptual understanding of how to think when developing quantum algorithms. - Simulation/execution, and what you can learn from it, such as how quantum performance compares to classical performance and the potential for mid-term, non-trivial achievements. o Machine Learning and large datasets The concept should be of particular interest to anyone who works with data science at scale. Machine learning (ML) can be immensely valuable in analyzing massive amounts of data as handling the complexity of analyzing l ## Quantum Computing: Paving the Path to a Greener Automotive Industry and Beyond DevFeed: [Quantum Computing: Paving the Path to a Greener Automotive Industry and Beyond]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Bahram Ganjipour Published: 2024-01-23T14:23:50Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [Quantum Computing]() Tags: [automotive](), [automotive-industry](), [battery](), [electric-vehicles](), [energy](), [funding](), [interest](), [quantum](), [quantum-computing](), [quantum-technologies](), [research](), [startups]() ### AI overview This second post in a series examines quantum computing's potential applications across industries, with particular attention to automotive use cases such as logistics, materials discovery, and improving batteries for electric vehicles. It also explains that quantum computers are specialized systems rather than universally faster conventional computers and notes growing interest and investment in the field. ### Source excerpt In the 2nd post of this series on the rise of quantum computing, I will explore the industry's landscape and offers an insightful overview of how quantum computing may revolutionize various industries, with a specific focus on its implications for the automotive industry. Quantum computing, as a field, is incredibly inspiring. Its potential to solve complex computational problems beyond the capabilities of classical computers fuels our hopes for energy-efficient solutions in various domains. This includes addressing logistics challenges, advancing material discovery, and significantly improving battery technology for electric vehicles. This inspirational view drew a lot of attention and investment to the field, and, as it is usual, the fertile ground provides a general opportunity for growth, both for the expected and the unexpected, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future in the automotive industry and the broader realm of electric vehicles. Like many other technologies, quantum computing (QC) has a longer history than we might expect. The academic foundations of the field were established in the 1980s, similar to the internet, which took decades to achieve widespread adoption. In the next post of this series, I will go into more detail on QC and how it works. For those who are unfamiliar with quantum computers, there are a few things to keep in mind for the time being. Firstly, Quantum computers are not simply superior versions of regular computers; they are vastly different systems that excel in solving specific problems. Their superior performance can be linked to their ability to leverage the strange behaviors of quantum particles in their information-processing capabilities. This makes QC well-suited for tackling immensely complex mathematical calculations that traditional machines cannot efficiently manage. You are not alone if you've been hearing more about QC recently. The tech community, investors, and government research organizations have b ## Unveiling Quantum Computing: Unlocking the Power of Qubits and Superposition DevFeed: [Unveiling Quantum Computing: Unlocking the Power of Qubits and Superposition]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Bahram Ganjipour Published: 2023-10-23T11:21:52Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Volvo Cars Engineering - Medium]() Topics: [Quantum Computing](), [Math and Logic]() Tags: [automotive](), [automotive-industry](), [quantum](), [quantum-computing](), [software](), [software-engineering](), [superposition](), [technology]() ### AI overview This introductory article explains quantum computing for an automotive audience, focusing on qubits, superposition, and how quantum technology could eventually address challenges across the automotive value chain. ### Source excerpt The emergence of quantum computing (QC), which has drawn considerable interest from corporate executives and technological experts, has led automobile companies to consider its implications for their future operations. In a three-part series, I , a senior software engineer and quantum computing lead at Volvo Cars, will shed light on this matter. The purpose of these series is to help you dip your toes into the water. TL; DR: Quantum Computing in Automotive For those of you familiar with quantum computing, bear with me, but for those who aren't, let's explore why it's truly remarkable and why we're thinking about it at Volvo Cars. Quantum computers are like superhero of the computation world, armed with the power to tackle profound global challenges. Now, imagine, what if we use our superhero friends, Quantum computers, to address issues throughout the automotive industry's value chain, with the aim of enhancing the environmental footprint of our cars, making them more sustainable and energy-efficient? This is what we are diligently striving to achieve at Volvo Cars and why we're captivated by quantum computers. So, buckle up as we delve into the fascinating realm of quantum technology and explore how it has the potential to transform the way we perceive both technology and automobiles. A quantum computer could carry out an immense number of calculations simultaneously by harnessing the unique properties of quantum. This allows them to process information in a completely distinct manner from classical computers, surpassing the capabilities of even the most powerful supercomputers available today. Quantum computing is going to change everything and even how we understand the world. The core advantage of quantum computers lies in their fundamental building blocks. Let's delve into the core advantages of quantum computers. The easiest way to explain quantum computing is by comparing it to classical computation. Conventional computers work on the basis of binary logic or