Can any body post tutorial for building a custom rom for G1 and Hero?
wrong area to post this... probably should take it off.
were should i put this thread then
Q&A buddy.
I wrote a few how-to's on compiling your own android build from source, i recommend starting here:
http://robblue2x.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-set-up-ubuntu-virtual-machine.html
it is a bit out of date now because android moves so fast, its incredibly hard to keep up to date!
robblue2x said:
I wrote a few how-to's on compiling your own android build from source, i recommend starting here:
http://robblue2x.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-set-up-ubuntu-virtual-machine.html
it is a bit out of date now because android moves so fast, its incredibly hard to keep up to date!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just visited this link But how do modify the existing files of android OS ?
If you have to ask how to change the files then you probably shouldn't be messing with the code for an OS. There is alot to it. You need to know how to set up linux, Git, repo, sdk, emulator, learn java,maybe some C++, edit xml files, and compile the edited code just to name a few.
read this
If you get that working then all you need is a text editor to start changing code.
Good luck!
What about modding existing roms?
Here is what I know so far...
system apps are not individualy signed
Rom must be packaged in zip having 3 root directories.
data (holds apps normaly)
META-INF (holds some kind of build files... and android manifest)
system (holds the OS and scripts and such.)
Also boot.img in the root dir.
The update.zip needs to be resigned if repackaged.
=) that is it all that I have gathered after hours of searching.
I dont want to recompile a kernel as I dont need to modify one. I would rather leave that to the more experienced DEVs. All I want is to remove/replace few apps...
My questions:
How do you sign a file... (tried the sign java thing in ubuntu and I get some king of error... could not find library and what not...)
There is a windows batch file floating around I have not tryed that.
I have some basic understanding of code language and I can flollow instructions even if I have to find my way around some stuff... but this rom building is like black magic... Everyone is doing it no one wants to explain how its done... If its too damn hard then so be it. I can modify it on the back end after installing. I just believe in clean simple installs.
What generates the META-INF directory and the files in there. Seems like there is some instructions on setting permissions for certain files and (manifest) seems like signiture keys..
Is that generated when the file is signed?
is it manualy generated?
is can those files be modified?
I know if this is answered it would be helpful in letting people optimize the builds for their own needs.
Sorry for the long post. I hope this gets explained or I dont care if I have to read, give me a bunch of homework (links).
zambezy said:
What about modding existing roms?
Here is what I know so far...
system apps are not individualy signed
Rom must be packaged in zip having 3 root directories.
data (holds apps normaly)
META-INF (holds some kind of build files... and android manifest)
system (holds the OS and scripts and such.)
Also boot.img in the root dir.
The update.zip needs to be resigned if repackaged.
=) that is it all that I have gathered after hours of searching.
I dont want to recompile a kernel as I dont need to modify one. I would rather leave that to the more experienced DEVs. All I want is to remove/replace few apps...
My questions:
How do you sign a file... (tried the sign java thing in ubuntu and I get some king of error... could not find library and what not...)
There is a windows batch file floating around I have not tryed that.
I have some basic understanding of code language and I can flollow instructions even if I have to find my way around some stuff... but this rom building is like black magic... Everyone is doing it no one wants to explain how its done... If its too damn hard then so be it. I can modify it on the back end after installing. I just believe in clean simple installs.
What generates the META-INF directory and the files in there. Seems like there is some instructions on setting permissions for certain files and (manifest) seems like signiture keys..
Is that generated when the file is signed?
is it manualy generated?
is can those files be modified?
I know if this is answered it would be helpful in letting people optimize the builds for their own needs.
Sorry for the long post. I hope this gets explained or I dont care if I have to read, give me a bunch of homework (links).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my advice for signing files would be to read through this thread. stericson says that JF's autosigning tool will work in linux. if you still can't get it pm stericson, he is a very nice member and should be able to help you
Thanks... That worked in windows.
Im getting some FC's but I can at least work on that now...
I did remove everything from the MANIFEST before signing just in case something did not get overwriten correctly.
I don't mess with the manifest files, so try not touching them and see if that helps
Can any body describe what does these files do while building a theme and how to edit these files:
android.policy.jar
framework.jar
services.jar
build.prop
build.sapphire.prop
build.trout.prop
sabin123 said:
Can any body describe what does these files do while building a theme and how to edit these files:
android.policy.jar
framework.jar
services.jar
build.prop
build.sapphire.prop
build.trout.prop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the prop files are configuration files and should NOT be replaced if your making a theme.
the .jar's should only be messed with if your adding stericsons lockscreen. you will have to decompile them for it to work
How to decompile the services.jar files?
Check out my theme thread. It's from when I was porting Android but most of these questions are explained in pretty good detail with links for more info. That should help you out quite a bit:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=578421
Go to the second post
Thanks for the link..
hey does anyone know how to make a update.zip for a apk???
you need to create an update-script that basically tells the flashing app where the file of your apk goes in the live system.
zip and sign and you're done.
if your next question is "how do I write an update-script" I would suggest you download any of the roms available, extract their script and have a look at it.
its quite basic, not much more difficult than writing a batch file on DOS.
there are a couple of threads that give a few pointers as well but they are somewhere in xda, not necessarily in the nexus section.
search for update-script and you'll see.
nmesisca said:
you need to create an update-script that basically tells the flashing app where the file of your apk goes in the live system.
zip and sign and you're done.
if your next question is "how do I write an update-script" I would suggest you download any of the roms available, extract their script and have a look at it.
its quite basic, not much more difficult than writing a batch file on DOS.
there are a couple of threads that give a few pointers as well but they are somewhere in xda, not necessarily in the nexus section.
search for update-script and you'll see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks mam ill give it a try
Remove the .txt extension or use the META-INF folder in the .zip that already has the same update-script in it or finally, you can use the empty update.zip which already has all the components in it, you just need to add your .apk's and .jar's to it.
This is a basic update script that works well for themes (or at least for me it does). In your .zip have META-INF (for the update-script) folder (take one from a ROM or theme) and an app and a framework folder and it will work.
Hey guys,
Im really sorry to bother you with this and I bet there has been plenty of threads about this, but Im still clueless.
I got a few files with the ending .apk.jar and for the life of me I can't get them installed. I found this site where you can get an apk from a jar or jad file, but I didn't quite understand how that should work.
And the Java runtime thingy seems to have been taken off the market.
Can anyone tell me how to install these kinds of files? I stumble over them again and again but their kind of useless to me
Thanks so much in advance!
try it with WINRAR and open this file, there should be an .apk file in it, this can be installed
I have searched, read, and tested my butt off on this so, I'm not posting without doing my own homework.
I'm looking for CURRENT documentation on how to create a standard update.zip file that simply copies a file into /system/foo/bar and chmods it.
All the links I've looked at seem to have old deprecated syntax on the update-script file, or the examples given simply do not work.
I do NOT want to download someone else's script-pak, windows app, or any other such thing that makes it for me.
As for signing, I'm completely comfortable signing using the SDK, although I'll probably take the easy route with ZipSigner/Signapktic running on the phone/tab now that I've discovered those.
Can someone please post a very simple howto?
Could someone please upload their entire preinstall/app folder from 905 for me? Safestrap hosed mine and now the ICS update won't install.
Much appreciated!
No one? Come on.
I had the same issue, but I just bit the bullet and took the long route by reverting back to 902.
Had the same problem but you can save yourself a TON of time by doing the following:
1. download the Zumocast apk from Play or anywhere on the internet really
2. move the com.motorola.zumocast.apk file to the preinstall/apps folder using your favorite root file explorer
3. rename the file com.motorola.zumocast by just deleting the ".apk" part
I don't even know if it has to be the zumocast apk or if it's just looking for the file name. Hope this solves your problem because it fixed mine.
Yeah I figured it out, the name change worked. Thanks anyway.
Hello friends,
Thanks for sharing your information, Really I am highly appreciated here.
Best regards
Nicholas