I'm aware that I should probably post this is the Dev area, but I'm not a Dev yet lol and don't want to clutter up their precious 'new release' space with what I consider a n00b question.
However, I'm a budding software developer who was very interested in developing apps for android - all of my ideas have been taken up by people and though I contribute a little towards those with suggestions I would like to jump in at the deep end instead.
So i figure, why not start a thread with links to relevant places to learn how to mod the Android OS - whichever version. Not like the dev section where its pretty hardcore, but introductory links:
Everything from removing / adding bits and pieces to an established custom / stock rom, to compiling your own kernel and porting versions could be covered.
It might also offer an incentive to the best devs on the android asteroid to continue knocking out tutorials even after they've moved on to newer versions?
Anyway, just an idea, what do you guys think? Personally at the moment I'm trawling through craploads of official docs trying to get a handle on where to start!
What your looking for is the stickies. They are at the top of each forum subsection. Happy reading. Props on putting it in q&a section though.
doofah said:
I'm aware that I should probably post this is the Dev area, but I'm not a Dev yet lol and don't want to clutter up their precious 'new release' space with what I consider a n00b question.
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DING DING DING! We have a winner! You sir, deserve a trophy for actually thinking!
Check out the "getting ADB up and running thread" It will point you to the android sdk and on that page you can download eclipse. Those should help you get on your way.
Resources for moddingo
Lol... Yay!! My brain was a worthwhile investment, must remember to send a letter of recommendation to my supplier!
Thanks guys I'll keep digging
My poor G1 is in for a ROUGH ride over the next few months I fear... maybe I should save for another just to be safe lol
There are several other threads that cover this. Search for those and they have links and documents relating to this.
You'll have to have knowledge on linux, java, c++, and someother stuff.
Sorry for posting this here, but I couldn't really find a suitable place since most of the Android action is right here.
These past weeks I've noticed an increase of irrelevant threads and clutter being made in regards to Android development in the HTC Dream forum and every other Android development forum on xda. A lot of Android devices out on the market now are not made by HTC. This of course is causing a problem since this forum is for HTC devices only.
Maybe it would be a good idea if a new forum was created that accounts for all native Android devices (Motorola Droid/Milestone, Motorola Cliq/Dext, Samsung Galaxy, etc...). That way, a lot of the clutter would surely be resolved and a considerate load would be taken off of this server (Gotta hate the horrible load on xda these days...).
I'm sure there are quiet a few people on here that have an HTC device and are fully satisfied with it (Me included!). That doesn't mean that everyone else has to feel the same way. People that choose to go with Samsung, Motorola, etc. for their next Android device should not be left out. That's why I believe there should definitely be a forum that serves everyone.
To put up a new forum specifically for this matter takes no time at all, but it does take participation. So if you feel like this is something you would like to see, please feel free to leave a comment.
What are you're opinions on this matter? Agree? Disagree?
Discuss.
EDIT: If there's enough people interested in this project, would there be anyone willing to help getting things started in terms of hosting space or something similar?
my thoughts are that the few changes that have been recently made should help if they are utilized. now we have a forum for general android development for devs, and the rom releases are in the device specific forums. Here was my idea, but i think they made the right choice. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=4795376&postcount=1
jaaronmoody said:
my thoughts are that the few changes that have been recently made should help if they are utilized. now we have a forum for general android development for devs, and the rom releases are in the device specific forums. Here was my idea, but i think they made the right choice. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=4795376&postcount=1
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It's a start. But I don't think xda is going to put up more sub forums for each new device out there. Thus, development and ROM threads for Motorola and other devices will be left out. Unless I understood your post incorrectly
no, you're right, i just dont think xda WANTS to keep up with every brand that uses android. they apparently keep their focus on HTC devices. there are gonna be a FLOOD of manufacturers utilizing droid in the future, and unless xda wants to change their focus, they will stick with one brand
jaaronmoody said:
no, you're right, i just dont think xda WANTS to keep up with every brand that uses android. they apparently keep their focus on HTC devices. there are gonna be a FLOOD of manufacturers utilizing droid in the future, and unless xda wants to change their focus, they will stick with one brand
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Yea that's exactly my point.
There WILL be a flood of Android devices from all kinds of manufacturers and it would be nice if there was a place for all of them come together. That way, everyone can keep track of specific development without having to switch between dozens of forums.
My $0.02.
good luck, my friend. Most likely it will take someone to else to start a new site to accomplish. funny, i was fooling around a couple days ago and did this. http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=176593179336&v=wall
not saying this is the solution, but you are not alone in your concerns.
I see that a few agree with me, care to share your point of view? Maybe it will spark this thing.
I'm posting this in the Development section because that is what I am trying to learn about. Please move me if I am mis-posting this.
I'm greatly interested in the the Roms people are making and everything that is being done on these forums. If someone wanted to start to learn about these things, developing and such, where should they start? Do I need to learn Java? Are there certain books I should be reading?
I can flash my phone like its my day job now, and I haven't come across any major problems I couldn't solve by reading, but I have no idea where to start to be able to develop things myself. If any developers here could maybe throw out a few tips on how to get started, what someone should focus on learning, etc., it would be greatly appreciated! I have plenty of time and a great desire to learn so I'm not intimidated by having to do the work, I just have to have some things to focus on. Thank you in advance for any help/advice you can give me!
I always wanted to know how make roms also I was looking around the internet but couldn't find anything that will describe it step by step word for word.
Maccie
It will be a huge writeup.But im sure someone will do it. I am still learning myself. There are some good topics around but different from what we have now
topshelf95 said:
I'm posting this in the Development section because that is what I am trying to learn about. Please move me if I am mis-posting this.
I'm greatly interested in the the Roms people are making and everything that is being done on these forums. If someone wanted to start to learn about these things, developing and such, where should they start? Do I need to learn Java? Are there certain books I should be reading?
I can flash my phone like its my day job now, and I haven't come across any major problems I couldn't solve by reading, but I have no idea where to start to be able to develop things myself. If any developers here could maybe throw out a few tips on how to get started, what someone should focus on learning, etc., it would be greatly appreciated! I have plenty of time and a great desire to learn so I'm not intimidated by having to do the work, I just have to have some things to focus on. Thank you in advance for any help/advice you can give me!
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There are a number of aspects to android development you have to learn to know how to build a full ROM from scratch. C is of course required for kernel building, and apps are built from java in the dalvik-vm, but can be built against sun java.
of course, to get started, you would need the android sdk available here: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
then there's the cloning of the android git:
http://android.git.kernel.org/
and, specifically for the captivate, there's the captivate source code:
http://opensource.samsung.com/
then there's pulling off the vendor proprietary libs from your phone (which is a ***** and I believe you can grab them from wes's github, though I can't speak for their accuracy) here:
http://github.com/wesgarner/proprietary_vendor_samsung
building the entire android OS from source is a challenge, especially compensating for some changes Samsung has introduced. this is what a real ROM is. now if you're talking about "ROM"s like Cognition and Shep's and even Eugene's Hybrid/Frankin-Twiz... they aren't comparable. Not to belittle any of their efforts, but this is simple "drag and drop" from stuff built by Samsung. While they're very useful tools, there is little actual development going on in them. There are improvements and tweaks, for sure... but it isn't a *true* ROM. All these releases by DesignGears, Eugene, and Shep are good and effective, but it'd be a shame if they weren't because they are just files thrown together from Samsung's already compiled ROM(s). Even the AOSP Beta 3 (which I have a qualm with the name, because it isn't actually AOSP, it's files pulled from an already built AOSP tossed onto Samsung's ROM again) is just modifying binaries (decompile, edit, recompile).
for those, it's as simple as extracting the zip, replacing the files you want, and rezip it. modifying the update-script inside meta-inf if there's something you want to add.
Awesome post Kaik, thanks, I was wondering some of those too.
Thx that explained a bunch
Maccie
Thank you for taking the time to post that Kaik! It's nice to have a place to start! Anyone else have any tips or things they think might be good to check out?
last, but certainly not least and I can't believe I forgot this, is Unhelpful's toolchain to compile against:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=761923
he did a lot of testing with various combinations, and this was the best he found to reduce wakeup lag and other issues
Wow. Kaik. That was the most awesome response to that question I have ever seen. Most people just point to developer.android.com and say go learn to program and come back in 5 years.
Thank you for this very useful information. Your the man now dog.
johnyhoffman said:
Most people just point to developer.android.com and say go learn to program and come back in 5 years.
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Devs are not being mean or pissy, they are being honest and realistic. If development was just "point and click" XDA would not even be here. Give the devs/veterans a break and take it upon yourself to learn the basics and do some searches, if you are that interested.
I would love to just start making my own Android OS just the way I like too but to do that will require much more reading and learning, trying and failing.
You will probably not find "the answer" you are looking for but if you search, read and most importantly, respect the time, energy and anguish people have put into this site you will find the means to get where you want.
Otherwise you can expect... "Let me just glance and peek to see how to do this. Damn what the hell does that mean? Oh well here is a modded ROM. I'll try that. Jeez, that sucks. How do I make my own? Let me just glance and peek to see how to do this. Damn what the hell does that mean? Oh well ..." It is an endless cycle.
I'm not saying this to belittle anyone. Most have been there, including myself. I say this as a vote of confidence to all.
Hang in there, do the work, break some phones, read some books. Really! You have to!
koe1974 said:
Devs are not being mean or pissy, they are being honest and realistic. If development was just "point and click" XDA would not even be here. Give the devs/veterans a break and take it upon yourself to learn the basics and do some searches, if you are that interested.
I would love to just start making my own Android OS just the way I like too but to do that will require much more reading and learning, trying and failing.
You will probably not find "the answer" you are looking for but if you search, read and most importantly, respect the time, energy and anguish people have put into this site you will find the means to get where you want.
Otherwise you can expect... "Let me just glance and peek to see how to do this. Damn what the hell does that mean? Oh well here is a modded ROM. I'll try that. Jeez, that sucks. How do I make my own? Let me just glance and peek to see how to do this. Damn what the hell does that mean? Oh well ..." It is an endless cycle.
I'm not saying this to belittle anyone. Most have been there, including myself. I say this as a vote of confidence to all.
Hang in there, do the work, break some phones, read some books. Really! You have to!
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this times one thousand. I linked you guys to some very useful sites when it comes to actually putting android together... but understanding how it all works, actually getting a successful build, fixing bugs, etc... I can't even begin to pretend to be able to help with that. if you have little to no experience in C and Java, these things will basically be useless to you. dev's aren't being mean when they brush you off like that, but usually if you can't figure out how to google what to do with the code, they don't have high hopes for what you'll be able to do with it once you find the code.
the idea isn't to be like "f*** off" when they say that, it's more of a "we'll help you when you learn, but you're the one who needs to take the first steps and you need to take the responsibility of learning on yourself."
I was actually referring to the fact that someone like me, a hobbyist programmer for about 10 years now, can make sense of his reply and use it to go forth and actually do something. Most of the guides you find on here that are supposedly pointed at noobs, do not layout things as easily as his post did.
Wasn't criticizing anyone, but I have seen less patience nowadays for any posts such as these.
Was just saying it was a gem of a post for me personally. Maybe it doesn't help the ultra noobs and the more experienced people see it as useless, but for someone with little time right now, it was a perfect post for me.
Hey,
Im looking for some devs to help develop a new kind of android tablet launcher, due to the fact that there is a very small choice out there at the moment, If you are interested in getting involved either comment here or pm me.
Sprint SG4 Dev Team
Hay guys how' everyone?
I am looking to put together a team of people to crank out some development work on our device.
I don't know everything But I do bring some Graphic Design skills to the table.
I have plenty of free time and want to make our device better in any way I can.
Im hopeing to find other developers to learn from I really want to learn to build update packs using aroma and make roms using kichen.
I figure anyone interested in joining up could send me a pm and then we get together on Skype or google hangouts. and see want we can accomplish.
or if you are alredy part of a team maybe you could recrut me. because im not crazy about working alone. I have been working with the device alittle over a month so far and I have been porting other android content to the sg4.
Im very interested in putting together a full featured rom. with many customizable options.
well post here or send me a pm and let me know whats up okay thanks for reading!
I didnt wantto start a new thread for this but can anyone fix this so it installs on s4 i think there is something wrong with the update script
i get failed in twrp.
i think it was made for another device but im planing on porting & moding to bring some sony content to s4.
and i need help with this if anyone can?
i wish i knew how to do it?
i know this launcer is old but thats not what i need it for.,