I was thinking (can be dangerous) but with engines with direct injection, wouldn't it be possible to do away with the starter? After all one of the cylinders should be at TDC or just past, the computer spits fuel in to that cylinder and boom it should fire enough to get another piston at TDC and boom the engine is running. It might be more practical with gas engine direct injection with a spark plug to help the process along. Any engineers in the forum?

 

There wouldn't be any compression in the cylinder. It will bleed off in a short amount of time. Your would still need to turn it over somehow to build compression.