Insights into 2024 Automotive Software Development Trends

Perforce Software has recently unveiled its comprehensive 2024 study on the state of automotive software development. The report delves into the evolving landscape of software-defined vehicles, shedding light on the primary concerns shared by developers worldwide.

Conducted in collaboration with Automotive IQ and the Eclipse Foundation, the survey engaged 600 automotive development professionals. The findings underscore the paramount importance of meeting cybersecurity approval regulations as the top security apprehension. Additionally, issues such as code quality and the global economy emerged as significant considerations.

The geographical scope of the annual survey has been broadened to encompass a more diverse pool of respondents from the Asia-Pacific region. This expansion offers a more nuanced understanding of the current status of automotive development on a global scale, with a particular emphasis on China's pivotal role in the industry.

Among the top concerns highlighted by automotive software developers are quality, security, and safety. Quality emerged as the primary concern for respondents in the Asia-Pacific region, while security took precedence among developers from other regions.

The surge in electric and connected vehicle development is exerting a profound impact on development teams. A significant majority of teams are actively engaged in working on electric components (84%) and connectivity components (79%) to varying extents.

The shift from a predominant focus on safety to an increased emphasis on security signals a notable trend in the industry. While safety standards are now firmly established in automotive practices, the spotlight is now on embedded security, particularly in meeting cybersecurity regulations and enforcing secure coding practices.

Perforce Product Evangelist Steve Howard emphasized the escalating concerns surrounding embedded security, citing the imperative to safeguard automotive electronic systems, communication networks, and software from potential threats. The proactive adoption of secure coding practices is identified as a crucial initial step in mitigating security risks.

The prevailing influence of the global economy remains a key market driver for automotive software professionals in 2024. Strategies aimed at sustaining industry competitiveness and optimizing existing resources are deemed essential. Perforce's research also underscores a growing trend towards hybrid/remote work models and a heightened focus on team productivity and accelerated development.

As software assumes a central role in the development of electric and connected vehicles, the proliferation of software within vehicles necessitates a heightened focus on safety and security throughout the development lifecycle. A significant portion of surveyed developers (59%) have embraced or are in the process of adopting a shift-left strategy to proactively identify software vulnerabilities during the coding phase.

The adoption of specialized tools is on the rise, with a notable 25% increase in the use of static analysis software since 2023, now employed by 67% of developers. Similarly, the utilization of version control tools has surged by 18%, reaching a current adoption rate of 56%.

Furthermore, 82% of developers leverage coding standards to ensure the delivery of safe, secure, and reliable code. Among these, 67% utilize static code analysis tools for compliance, while 26% employ SAST tools to fortify software security.

Noteworthy findings from the survey reveal a 20% increase in the adoption of MISRA guidelines, with 62% of developers now incorporating these standards. The release of new MISRA guidelines likely contributed to this substantial uptick in adoption rates.

Director of Compliance Jill Britton emphasized the industry's ongoing commitment to upholding the highest quality standards, particularly in light of the rapid expansion of electric and connected vehicle segments. Compliance with stringent safety and security protocols is poised to become increasingly critical in the automotive sector.

Perforce offers the Helix QAC static code analyzer for C and C++ programming languages, along with the Klocwork static analysis and SAST tool catering to a broader range of programming languages including C#, Java, JavaScript, Python, and Kotlin.

The detailed survey report can be accessed at here.

For those interested in gaining deeper insights into the survey results, a live webinar featuring expert analysis is scheduled for April 25, 2024. Registration for the webinar is open at this link.