The Hansen Report

The Hansen Report on Automotive Electronics delves into the critical issue of C++'s safety in the automotive industry. U.S. experts have raised alarming concerns about C++'s vulnerability to cybersecurity attacks, with a recent White House report explicitly stating that C++ is not memory-safe. Rust is being considered as a safer alternative, but it faces challenges in terms of established safety processes. The article explores the arguments for saving C++, including the extensive tool chains and industry know-how, and discusses the slow pace of updates to the C++ standard. It also highlights the dual efforts of companies like Toyota in both Rust and C++ safety. The future of C++ in safety-critical applications hangs in the balance, with potential regulatory implications and severe consequences in case of security breaches. The report offers a comprehensive look at the ongoing debate and efforts to secure automotive electronics.