Where there's a will...
2024 Kia EV6, stock head unit.
Edit with some quick notes because I didn't realize this blew up:
This is NOT yet usable as a replacement to stock. Working:
- Boots! (32 bit only because stock is 32bit, so no AAOS)
- Display
- Touch
- WiFi
- Maybe BT
- Maybe Modem (not gonna test that)
- GPS (uses translation daemon)
- Climate/controls/sensors/some energy stats - as much as MICOM provides anyway (uses translation daemon)
- GPU
- VPU (really need to test more)
Not working yet:
- Audio/amp control
- Power sequencing like when to turn off display, wake/sleep etc
- Any kind of head unit experience (this will come later, I'll try AGL first, and if I can get 64 bit then I'll try AAOS)
Use NEMESIS to get root on Android: https://github.com/xwtk/hmg_nemesis
Blog post that has a small section on this: https://w-floyd.com/2026/10/notes-on-llms-part-01/#2024-kia-ev6-head-unit I'll post more there as I find the time. I am using LLMs for a lot of the heavy lifting as I try things out (never to write my blog). I link to my GitHub repos there, where this work is being actively pushed.
I only bought this car a week ago.
Don't be an idiot and actually reflash your unit if you try this - I am using kexec to boot from an image from the USB, so this is completely nondestructive (NEMESIS is what actually is installed to the system).
Some more photos!
133 replies
I’m daily driving Linux
You’re daily driving Linux
We’re not the sane
Is this a typo ooooor...?
It was a typo, but now I’m not so sure
One is litteraly daily driving linux (automobile)
Another has a daily driver with linux (a everyday computer)
"We're not the sane"
Oh shit (echo)
2027 year of the Linux car
gonna be the year of Linux everyhing before it ever becomes year of the linux desktop.
I doubt many modern head units exist that don't rely on the Linux kernel
Fords run QNX I believe.
Honda factory head units run just straight up android. On my friends 2017 civic he could poke a few buttons and get to the normal android ui.
Android depends on the Linux kernel
I’m well aware.
it depends
Why, did you get it working on the BSD kernel?
no, it was a word play
I’m pretty sure a good portion of them actually run QNX which is a UNIX-like owned by blackberry
Oof you're right completely forgot.
That can be true with the car OS. But he is talking about the "infotainment" tablet OS.
Maybe I’m mistaken but I thought qnx was also running the default infotainment systems too
It can be. But I think it's easier to use a limited version of Android. QNX after all is a RTOS.
That does make sense tbh
I have a 2013 Nissan Leaf that runs WindowsCE, I gotta try that next lol
Hah! We have the exact same car garage!
I have an older fancy aftermarket unit that runs Windows CE. I wonder if I could trick it into using something else...
Absolute fucking legend here.
What would be really cool is if Doom responded to the steering.
Tesla has a racing game that does exactly that, but most of the vehicles still have mechanical steering linkage, so the actual wheels turn along with the game. It's not as bad for the tires as you'd think, but it's still ridiculous.
Done long ago.
A legend in what sense? Doom is so optimized (beatifully, in fact) one could port it anywhere.
Seriously, anywhere.
Now, a legend would be someone dresses up as a maintenance tech for self checkout kiosks and installs Doom to kick on when it normally asks for coupons. Oh my god, not advocating in any way, but that would be punk as fuck.
And on that note, I am going to backpedal into the bushes, but peep out: "Doom is very optimized and built on C. You can port that shit to ship ports. You can run Doom on glasses. You can run Doom on a taco, given the system requirements.
Getting it to run on a car? Meh. I got it running on a TI-85 a quarter of a century ago.
So meh.
It’s not the doom that’s impressive, it’s installing a Linux distro in a car…
Spot on. I would love to do the same to my car but it's locked down tighter than a duck's arse.
Yeah... to an extent.
Man, don't get me wrong: for an early project this is cool. I am not trying to rain on someone's parade.
It's cool! Super cool! I am glad they had fun.
But dude, I am a systems engineer. You wouldn't believe the shit I have recompiled kernels for.
That's the thing. Super happy for them. Awesome! And I am sure they learned some shit along the way, and that is so great!
I deeply encourage people to learn, experiment and create.
But I am getting a lot of backlash, but lets make this clearer:
I have been working professionally in systems, networking, and programming hands on for 30 years. Cool, and neat, and an interesting thing to try when we have a weekend and a 12 pack.
Curious where they hit the brick walls. No details there. Just pics and some base notes.
Props to OP, and I apologize for I guess being a dick for half-shrugging... while I worked today as a systems engineering manager.
So many responses: do you all go to work or sleep or have social activities? Just read? Man, but I am a troll; not you, just what others have said.
You know, I took an old iphone and made it a webserver. Why? I was high, to be honest.
Why? Because the dude on my couch challenged me. It even ran wordpress (though the db was running off my server). Why? Man, we were fucking stoned.
And it was annoying because he wasn't helping, just there. Like when playing basketball and someone is trying to block your shot and all you wanted to do was play Horse.
Drunk ramble?
No.
Oh no, it sucks, because now I am management. But I do get to design new solutions: that part is pretty dope.
It is just a pain in the ass to get a proper budget.
Ladies and gentlemen, this might actually be the most pretentious poster on Lemmy. I propose a toast to witnessing this great moment. Huzzah.
They’re the only user I’ve used user tags for on the site. They should be proud.
Yup. You won.
Lol obvious troll is obvious.
What trolling? Have you looked at the code? It is actually quite beautiful.
You're so cool, and a 1337 haxor as well.
Because I read the code? It is wonderful code.
I don't know about this leet shit, but I have been in the field for 25 years and I do stupid ass mods for fun.
Like, I built an MP3 player from hardware scratch, like I actually started with a custom PCB. My coworker's kid wasn't allowed to have his phone in class, the father had a 3D printer, so I threw some shit together.
What fucking sub is this in? You can run Doom on toasters because it is just C, which is like a simple step away from assembly.
This is so fucking stupid. Sorry, I just happen to be a systems and network engineer who also does low level programming. My fucking bad. Great conversation.
This isn't about Doom, ffs... For someone that reads code, you sure are dense.
Not really? So OP compiled the Linux kernel to the chip architecture, which was the real feat, and that is admirable, and then played Doom. Cool!
Cool, man. I am getting heat because I am asking what they would do with it, as running a custom OS on your damn death machine is alone dangerous, but let's test it out by playing the most opened source and well optimized code on the fucking planet.... that is the predessor to the real grandpa of FPS... on your fucking car screen... hold up: what is the make, model, year, bluetooth adapter hardware ID or at least which chipset, the wifi chipset, the video chipset, how were each of these compiled to... hold up, what is the CPU used in this year, make, and model of car?
One of these days, people are going to figure out why I said what I said. Not holding my breath.
Edit: to be VERY clear, the structure of the comment was to literally mock you.
Just didn't want you to assume that I don't know how to write. And I am not upset. Just being sardonic.
Getting Nura running on a car head unit isn't just "compiling the kernel for a different architecture" and if you knew half of what you claim to know, you'd know that. That is, in fact, the easiest part and not "the real feat" by any means.
I know it isn't. But it is a necessary step. And you should know that as well.
The cool part is that they figured out how to interface with it.
Why is everyone just trying to be the bigger asshole? Are you just begging for it because you think I am the biggest prick?
You can run Doom on a fridge. I am not saying the feat isn't admirable. I bet it was tough to get Doom to run on a C64. That's very cool, as is the achievement that this post is about.
I don't understand the itch in your ass.
Oh do go on, tell us about how cool you are. You should get ALL the praise and attention, and all projects must be ridiculed for not being as cool as yours.
Wait, you forgot to list that one project where you got a Linux distro running on a car infotainment unit but ran Crysis on it instead of stupid doom and shared the details with the community. You forgot to bring that up, right?
No, I didn't. That shit won't run Crysis.
Stop being a dick. You are projecting your dickness onto me.
You're so meh.
What an ironically meh comment. Did you work on that all night?
You seem like the type of person that doesn't just love the smell of their own farts, but thinks everyone else does too.
::: spoiler spoiler They don't. :::
Ahkay.
I drive Arch, btw.
Yeah, you already said it was running Linux. (I love Linux, just funny how audio always seems to be so difficult to get working properly)
Very cool, I like it!
screams in pipewire
I had that experience, too. Then, some years back, I just stopped having issues with audio in Linux, it Just Worked.
But, maybe a year ago, my desktop machine started this thing where there is noise when the audio driver is active (I'm guessing, I don't really know). That is, if the system plays a sound, for some seconds after that, I'll hear noise from the speakers. Then it cuts off, until the next sound is played.
I've done some searching on the issue, without useful results, everything is about the power saving setting, which has had no effect for me. And the issue those people are having is different than mine, and I haven't hit on quite the right search terms to distinguish.
Similar thing happened to me, I think it was the switch to pipewire that made everything just work.
I'm going to take a wild swing here and say that's probably because there's still a load more audio controller ICs out there than for other interfaces and/or the other interfaces are more standardised on the firmware drivers. Therefore not all drivers cover all audio ICs so it's a bit of a faff to find the right one.
"You wouldn't download a car!"
Yes I would.
Anyway, I'm glad to finally see something like this. Finally, the start of open source software in vehicles.
Open-source software has been used in cars for ages. Daniel Stenberg, the author of curl, has been receiving emails from people complaining about their cars, because his address was listed in the licensing section of the infotainment system's 'about' screen.
Linux is my daily driver guy
Where are the obligatory in-game Doom screenshots?
https://w-floyd.com/2026/10/notes-on-llms-part-01/#does-it-run-doom
You're a god.
Now make it playable via steering wheel and accelerator. Bonus points for linking "fire" to the car horn.
It has been suggested before lol
Currently I don't see a way to monitor CAN bus from the head unit, it just talks to the MICOM over serial, so unless that can relay CAN, it might not be possible.
But does it run Doom?
3rd or 4th pic confirms that it does!
If cars infotainment was open source I would be so much more down. Obviously safety systems need to be more locked down so shitty people don't disable them and resell the car, but infotainment? Hell yeah.
I’ve been waiting for this. Did you use that dude’s project that was posted about last year? Wondering if it will work on the Ioniq 5
I think you mean “wheel”
Pssh. This guy
I'm afraid to brick my head unit, leaving my family quite put out lol. I was thinking that it would be nice to add an app though that I could use for remote-climate control on my 2023 now that my Kia subscription has lapsed.
I have similar feelings. I've had problems with my Hyundai just trying to install map updates.
I would be delighted for my Volvo to stop popping up a full-screen "try Gemini" page while I'm driving.
But yes, I would rather not brick the infotainment.
oh my god. yes, i hate this awful ad too. but i cant try something like this because its a leased car :(
Kia ...subscription?!
Eww
Wait until it's a sure thing imo. I'm not messing with mine until then.
This is amazing. If you keep working on this I would follow it with great interest!
Lol - it runs Doom! I love it
Glorious Gnome as all things should be.
This might be a good application for KDEs Big-screen do you lose access to carplay when you do this?
KDE gotta make a vehicle infotainment UI now
Plasma Auto
How much of what works? That's impressive.
Currently not using Linux because I'm a dumbass, but this.. this is insanely cool and makes me wanna try Linux out again.
This is awesome! I desperately want to replace the stock firmware, an open source alternative would be fantastic. Have you poked around the stock firmware to see how the telemetry is delivered via the modem, out of curiosity? For me that's the number one thing to stop while building out an open alternative in the meantime.
Congrats! Your changes will not be accepted, though: https://docs.nura.eco/policies-and-processes/development/ai-policy.html
Not that anyone there would buy or borrow a car to make sure the port isn't a hoax. I know it's just the head unit but I don't know if Android will boot out of chassis (it's usually picky like that) and you said you are kexec-ing.
I'm aware 🙂 I respect their stance, and love the Nura community, it just happens to be an easy base to build from. It'll be something like AGL or AAOS that I'd actually use if it goes anywhere.
Upstreaming isn't my end goal tho, we all know there's enough LLM slop being submitted as is, I'm just here to have fun and try stuff.
I just bought a 2024 ID.4. Once the warrenty is up, I'm hoping there will be more like this. It's exciting.
Finally, the future of automotives we all actually want. This is AWESOME. :D
I'm about to pay 20 dollars for 1 month of Claude, plug that shit into my BYD, and have it hack the shit out of it. I can't code to save my own life, so I guess I'm tossing those 20 bucks over to Dario and see how my car battery melts in the middle of the night (on the cameras, I'll either be sleeping or watching animé).
Don't feel embarrassed about using AI to help you accomplish a real task.
heeeell yeah
Oh man, is that the Gen5w head unit that's also on the ioniq 5 and 6? Don't put dangerous ideas in my head...
If yours Android based, maybe? I'm still learning about the broader ecosystem
interesting
noted... 😶🌫️
@WFloyd bravissimo!
For curiosity sake, why and how
I look forward to seeing you in a future dashcam video
Were you trying to get the system logo to match your big bright red triangle hazard light button, or was that just a happy accident?
It's Nura's (formerly PostmarketOS) logo.
I need more information!
Can you write up (or link to) any resources for doing this?
Edit: thanks for more details on the post!
Yeah! Post that market!
Is this replacing the head unit software? In my Mazda all of the car’s settings are accessed through that screen rather than the one for the speedometer. I would be afraid this would brick my car, or at least make it so I couldn’t change any of the settings like when it wants to automatically turn on the brights.
I'm fascinated by all the humans dunking on the obvious LLM trollbot, over and over again, elsewhere in this post.
Yo thats awesome. Guess somebody needs to port android auto/ Apple car play to Linux now lmao
https://github.com/f1xpl/openauto/
https://github.com/opencardev/crankshaft
https://github.com/f-io/LIVI
Is there any Linux program that are for the other half?
The only reverse engineered Android Auto solution I'm aware of that runs on the phone side is Flywheel, but that's Android only.
https://github.com/Benjamin-Wiegand/Flywheel
For Google-certified head units, it requires extracting keys every 3 months from a rooted Android phone with Google apps installed (with an up-to-date installation of the official Android Auto). Alternatively, it may also be possible to roll the clock back on the head unit.
Buying a car with a touchscreen when I'm dead and my grandson has my money.
Very cool! I'll be paying attention to the development efforts!
I always wanted to do the same to my new Renault Twingo 2026 to get rid of all that google tracking stuff that they shoehorn everywhere.
Damn. Please give us more info. I have a ‘25 EV6 Wind and would love to play around.
Love a big Donate button on my car dashboard. BMW needs to get on this
What about USB OTG?
Tbd, still figuring that out
o7
Well done! I hope you wrote a tutorial on the process?
Amazing 👏
I was looking atthe dash, excited to see my car! Is it a projection from a phone or flashed onto the head unit?
It's booted from a USB via kexec from stock, so it swaps out the kernel and I can then load whatever I like - only limitation right now being 32bit 😔
That's awesome! I'm getting inspiration to try this out one day.