Glossary

A

API (Application Programming Interface) A programming interface that defines how different software components interact with each other. In OSxCAR, APIs enable communication between WebAssembly modules and the vehicle system.

AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture) A global development partnership standard by automotive manufacturers, suppliers, and tool developers for developing automotive software.

Autonomous Driving Self-driving vehicle technology that enables vehicles to navigate and operate without human input.

B

Binary Interface The interface between compiled code and the executing system. WebAssembly defines a standardized binary interface for cross-platform execution.

Blockchain A decentralized, distributed ledger technology that can be used in OSxCAR for secure vehicle-to-vehicle communication and authentication.

C

CAN (Controller Area Network) A robust vehicle bus system that allows microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.

Cross-Compilation The process of compiling code on one platform (e.g., x86) for execution on another platform (e.g., ARM).

D

Digital Twin A digital representation of a physical vehicle or system used for simulation, monitoring, and maintenance.

Docker Container A lightweight, portable runtime environment that packages applications and their dependencies in isolated containers.

E

ECU (Electronic Control Unit) An electronic control unit in the vehicle that controls various vehicle systems such as engine, brakes, or infotainment.

Embedded System A specialized computer system that functions as part of a larger system and is usually optimized for specific tasks.

F

Fleet Management The management and monitoring of a vehicle fleet, including maintenance, tracking, and optimization.

FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air) The ability to update firmware and software in vehicles remotely via wireless connections.

G

Git A distributed version control system used in software development to track changes in source code.

GitHub A web-based platform for version control and collaboration that hosts Git repositories.

H

Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) A software layer that provides a uniform interface between application software and hardware-specific functionality.

HMI (Human-Machine Interface) The user interface through which humans interact with machines or systems, e.g., touchscreens in vehicles.

I

IoT (Internet of Things) The network of physical objects equipped with sensors, software, and other technologies to exchange data over the internet.

ISO 26262 An international standard for functional safety of electrical and/or electronic systems in motor vehicles.

J

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) A lightweight, text-based data format commonly used for data exchange between applications.

JIT (Just-In-Time) Compilation A compilation technique where code is compiled at runtime to optimize performance.

K

Kubernetes An open-source platform for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.

L

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) A remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create 3D maps of the environment.

Linux An open-source operating system commonly used in embedded systems and as a basis for OSxCAR development environments.

M

Machine Learning A subset of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms to learn from data and make predictions.

Microservices An architecture where applications are developed as a collection of small, independent services.

MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) A lightweight messaging protocol for communication between IoT devices.

N

Native Code Code that is executed directly by the processor without interpretation or runtime compilation.

Neural Network A computing system inspired by biological neural networks used for machine learning.

O

OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) A vehicle diagnostic system that provides access to status information of various vehicle systems.

Open Source Software whose source code is publicly available and can be viewed, modified, and distributed by anyone.

OTA (Over-The-Air) The wireless transmission of software updates, configurations, or other data to devices.

P

Performance Profiling The process of analyzing the runtime properties of an application to identify performance bottlenecks.

PWA (Progressive Web App) Web applications that provide native app-like functionality and experiences.

Q

QNX A commercial, Unix-like real-time operating system frequently used in automotive applications.

Quality Assurance (QA) The process of ensuring that software meets specified requirements and quality standards.

R

Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) An operating system designed for applications that require fast, predictable response to events.

REST (Representational State Transfer) An architectural style for developing web services that uses HTTP methods for communication.

Rust A programming language designed for safety, speed, and concurrency, used in OSxCAR modules.

S

Sandbox An isolated execution environment that prevents applications from accessing system resources outside their authorized areas.

SDK (Software Development Kit) A collection of development tools that enable creating applications for a specific platform.

Sensor Fusion The integration of data from multiple sensors to create more accurate and reliable information about the vehicle environment.

T

Telemetry The automatic collection and transmission of data from remote or inaccessible points.

Thread A lightweight process that enables multiple operations to run simultaneously within an application.

TypeScript A programming language developed by Microsoft that extends JavaScript with static type definitions.

U

Unit Testing A testing method where individual components of software are tested in isolation to ensure they function correctly.

UX (User Experience) The overall experience of a user when interacting with a product or system.

V

V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) Communication technology that enables vehicles to exchange information directly with each other.

V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) Communication technology that connects vehicles to their environment, including other vehicles, infrastructure, and pedestrians.

Virtualization The creation of virtual versions of computer resources such as operating systems, servers, or storage devices.

W

WASM (WebAssembly) A binary instruction format for a stack-based virtual machine that enables code to run at near-native speed on the web and other environments.

WebAssembly Runtime The runtime environment that executes WebAssembly modules and provides the necessary APIs and services.

WebGL A JavaScript API for rendering interactive 2D and 3D graphics in web browsers without plugins.

X

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) A markup language for representing hierarchically structured data in text files.

Y

YAML (YAML Ain’t Markup Language) A human-readable data format commonly used for configuration files and data exchange.

Z

Zero Trust Security A security model that assumes no entity inside or outside the network is trustworthy by default.

Next: Frequently Asked Questions • Downloads