From our CEO:
It’s time! With this latest edition, we are launching our new newsletter format. We hope it meets your feedback as well as our own expectations for high-quality information.
The past months have been marked by numerous changes: on the side of our customers, our suppliers and partners, and through our integration into the knowmad mood group.
Many of these changes will continue to accompany us in the coming year. We hope that our newsletters will serve as a valuable source of information and inspiration during times of transition, helping you set the right course for the years ahead.
Together with our colleagues from the knowmad mood group, we remain focused on filtering out and preparing the topics that matter most to our customers, ensuring you get the greatest value from your investments.
As always, if something is missing, please tell us. Otherwise, please feel free to pass it on!
Our team wishes you a wonderful Advent season and a great start to the new year!
Tech & Innovation:
🔧 Tech Insights: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing with GitLab
For our PACCAR engagement, our engineering team explored whether Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) testing can be integrated directly into GitLab pipelines and successfully proved that it’s possible.
🎯 Goal
The objective was clear: show that GitLab can execute HiL tests on real hardware, allowing developers to work with specialized devices without having that hardware physically on their desk.
🛠️ Technical Approach
To achieve this, a Windows-11-based GitLab Runner was set up to communicate with an Arduino Mega 2560 board connected via USB. The setup used:
- GitLab Runner with PowerShell
- Arduino Mega 2560
- PlatformIO (for microcontroller integration)
- Speeduino (open-source ECU management system providing test suites)
This created a HiL-like environment, enabling automated tests on real microcontroller hardware directly through GitLab pipelines.
⚙️ Technical Challenges
The team faced two major obstacles:
- Speeduino’s existing HiL tests were built for GitHub Actions and needed to be re-implemented for GitLab.
- Persistent timing issues during USB communication caused test results to overwrite each other, likely due to Windows 11 USB driver limitations.
Despite these challenges, all tests executed successfully, although the communication layer remains imperfect.
💡 Outcome & Value
The main achievement:
✔️ Proof of concept succeeded: GitLab can run HiL tests on real hardware.
There is no measurable improvement specific to PACCAR, but the expertise gained opens opportunities for future customers with HiL or embedded testing requirements.
🔭 Outlook
A promising next step could be to move the setup from Windows 11 to a Linux-based Raspberry Pi to mitigate timing issues. At the moment, no additional development is planned due to lack of budget, but the potential remains significant.
Partner spotlight:
Upcoming Webinar (German): npm-Malware-Angriffe verstehen & verhindern
Our partner Sonatype is hosting a highly relevant German-language webinar that will be extremely valuable for teams working with JavaScript, Node.js, and open-source supply chains.
🗓 December 11
🌐 Free webinar
🔗 Register Here
What to expect:
Join Sonatype’s experts for an exclusive deep dive into the infamous npm malware attacks. They will explain:
- How these attacks unfolded
- How you can prevent similar threats in the future
- Concrete, practical solutions to secure your software supply chain
A must-attend session for anyone who wants to strengthen their development pipelines and protect their open-source ecosystem.
Inside knowmad mood:
A Moment of Reunion
This quarter, our Sales Director shared a story that beautifully captures the spirit of openness within KMM. After more than 30 years, he found himself sitting in an interview with a former colleague, now in a reversed role, as he would be reporting to him.
What could have been an unusual or even tense moment instead became a reminder of how strong relationships and mutual respect can shape our work. The conversation was marked by honesty and openness, setting the tone for a renewed collaboration built on trust.
What drives the team forward?
A shared commitment to success and the belief that transparency is the foundation of good teamwork. “Playing with open cards” is more than a motto, it’s the daily practice that keeps the team aligned and connected.
This story highlights how long-standing professional relationships, guided by integrity and openness, can create a meaningful foundation for the future.
Upcoming Events:
📅 Upcoming Event: SDV Conference Europe 2025 in Berlin (Dec 1–2)
Software-Defined Vehicles: Automotive Innovation in the Era of AI
We’re excited to participate in the Software-Defined Vehicles Conference Europe 2025, a leading event that brings together automotive innovators, software experts, and security professionals to shape the future of intelligent and connected vehicles.
As the automotive industry evolves toward fully software-defined systems, organizations face new opportunities and new security challenges. At SDV 2025, we will explore how automotive companies can build secure, resilient software ecosystems that support rapid innovation while maintaining safety and compliance.
📍 Find us at Stand 6, where we will be co-exhibiting together with our partner SonarSource.
Together, we’ll highlight our combined expertise in DevSecOps, code quality, and secure software delivery for automotive environments.
🎤 Our Presentation:
🔐 Securing the Software Supply Chain in the Era of AI
A deep dive into how SAST and SCA help automotive organizations safeguard development pipelines, reduce risk, and secure the full software lifecycle in an AI-driven world.
Join us in Berlin to learn how modern software security practices are powering the next generation of intelligent, AI-enhanced vehicles.
📅 Upcoming Event: OEB 2025 in Berlin (Dec 3–5)
Humanity in the Intelligent Age: Empathy, Responsibility & the Duty of Care
We’re excited to announce that we will participate in OEB 2025, one of the most influential global conferences at the intersection of learning, education, and technology.
For 31 years, OEB has brought together experts from six continents to shape how learning evolves. This year’s theme focuses on the challenges and opportunities of the Intelligent Age, a time when AI and automation are transforming how we learn, work, and live.
At the core lies one essential question:
How do we ensure that technology serves humanity, not the other way around?
📍 You can find us at Stand C45, where we will exhibit together with Anthology and DEXS (Knowmad Mood Company).
Our shared presence aims to strengthen brand awareness and to position Blackboard as the leading LMS solution for institutions shaping the future of learning.
Join us in Berlin as we explore how innovation can expand opportunities, enrich learning experiences, and keep people at the center of progress.
