[Q] How to create your own rom? - Captivate Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

ive used roughly 5 roms already on this phone and i liked bits of everyone. but not one rom seemed to completely satisfy my needs. so i would like to build my own. but i dont have the knowledge to do this... yet. i was wondering where i could start. i.e. a website on how to do this, the basics to it or any tips. thanks.

Yes. It would be nice to figure that part out. I dont know where to start either. What small pieces come together to create a Rom. I know though that I would probably have to compile a lot of the code. but how and where would I begin modifying the source code?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

Start by going to the chef central thread for android. Tons of good reading.

Yes I would also recommend going to the chef section for the basics in rom cooking. However I would not have super high ambitions unless you are a fairly skilled programmer. I have recently been doing my own cooking. Adding a few .Apks changing the lockscreen and other minor stuff. However even with several years of programming experience most of the stuff is over my head.
As long as you are commited and willing to spend the time you should have no problem.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Related

Question about Kitchens, Rom Cooking and Classes

I was a big user of the TMO Wing before I got my G1 and was late to the party. One of my favorite cooks, Ttran was nearing the end of his development and there were still quite a few cooks left in the kitchen even after he was done.
I remember wanting to learn how to cook and a few cooks even had classes and there were kitchens available to make your own roms.
My question is, even though it is probably a little to earlier to anticipate, does anyone think we will have a kitchen to work with or even have a few classes regarding rom development for the G1?
I searched and didn't see anything regarding rom development (for a n00b)
Any help or even where I would be able to start would be great. Im not looking to be the next top Chef on Xda im just looking to make a rom a little more, my own. Ive already done some "adb" work but am looking for more.
Thanks!
Moses

cooking android roms ???

is there a rom cooking for dummies. or some sort of guide. i would like to get into cooking roms for fun and actually contriibute
b0ricuaguerrero said:
is there a rom cooking for dummies. or some sort of guide. i would like to get into cooking roms for fun and actually contriibute
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mlign put one up today youtube.com/mlign
He doesn't want to know how to sign files and setup the SDK, he wants somebody to hold his hand and teach him the inner workings of ROM cooking and development.
As a side note, that was the worst video tutorial I have ever seen. The guy's ROMs might be good, but the guy seems like a complete tool. Not to mention, there is a right clicking signing tool available in the dream theme forum. I don't know why he was using such a complicated signing tool.
DirectMatrix said:
He doesn't want to know how to sign files and setup the SDK, he wants somebody to hold his hand and teach him the inner workings of ROM cooking and development.
As a side note, that was the worst video tutorial I have ever seen. The guy's ROMs might be good, but the guy seems like a complete tool. Not to mention, there is a right clicking signing tool available in the dream theme forum. I don't know why he was using such a complicated signing tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I see how that could warrant a new thread.
DirectMatrix said:
He doesn't want to know how to sign files and setup the SDK, he wants somebody to hold his hand and teach him the inner workings of ROM cooking and development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont need anyone to hold my hand. i just want to know if theres is a definitive guide to rom cooking or rom cooking for dummies. or anything that can send me to the yellow brick road for rom cooking.
b0ricuaguerrero said:
i dont need anyone to hold my hand. i just want to know if theres is a definitive guide to rom cooking or rom cooking for dummies. or anything that can send me to the yellow brick road for rom cooking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i too would like to know it be really nice to make my own rom for my own phone haha
you'll be lucky!
ive been learning to cook my own rom for a while now, and im cooking eclair.
ive had a thread asking how the devs fixed sync and wifi on eclair... and no bugger seems to wanna share!
this comunity is about sharing yes... then why is it so hard to get any help!?
philicibine said:
this comunity is about sharing yes... then why is it so hard to get any help!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont know but, i still want to know. how to cook a god dam rom
you don't learn the cooking, the cooking learns you!
heh, but really, the reason there's no "definitive cooking guide" is because there's no such thing. Usually there's two approaches to creating roms: Porting and compiling from source. Porting is easy because it involves just knowing which files are necessary for the phone to run (kernel and it's modules, using/modifying/building a correct ramdisk, and pulling the necessary hardware/proprietary files to make the rom be able to communicate with the hardware). For those, a basic knowledge of file systems and using a few tools; your file archivers (7z, file roller, winrar, etc), porting tools (unyaffs, extract-kernel.pl, extract-ramdisk.pl, mkbootimg, mkbootfs) and distribution tools (testsing.jar, a working knowledge of update-script layouts) and you should be porting quickly, it's just mix and match to make your frankenbuild.
Building from source is not hard, or mystical, or anything of the sort. it requires learning how to use git/repo and working with makefiles.
If you want to make a truly custom build from source that works with google apps and has your own customizations, then you do need to learn a slight of java, c, c++, and most importantly, android app development.
You can't just say there's a guide. I guess the easiest one could do is put up a video of how to make a build from source, if I have time/drive I could do one, whole process takes about 2-3 hours (if you've never built before but have a build environment already setup), but I guess I could skim it down to a few minutes, since a lot of the time spent is waiting for compilation.
I too have been looking how to cook my own rom, so I could do my own tinkering so I could flash right away and use my own to my personal liking. If anyone could post a video or tutorial on how to do so I would be so grateful. I learn pretty fast just need a little help here and there.
In response to the OP, there are two tools that I am aware of:
One
Two
akapoor said:
In response to the OP, there are two tools that I am aware of:
One
Two
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in my response to you. EAT A **** ASSHOLE
and jubeh thank you for the info.
b0ricuaguerrero said:
in my response to you. EAT A **** ASSHOLE
and jubeh thank you for the info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go ahead and entertain yourself by reading post two:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/announcement.php?f=438
Specifically points 1 and 2
I honestly hate when people do that ****...
The guy has 70+ posts....has been a member since 2007 you really think that he didnt search here and on google..
Considering I have been searching both places myself for over a month and all I come up with is premade custom roms... No reading on how to make a custom rom myself... What really gets me is that I read and I seem to be more confused..
With android running RUU's and signed.nbh's. Why do we have to update via a zip file... In the article that explains how to make a custom rom I found just today he says that RUU's dont allow any customization. Which is funny to me because Ive been cooking WM roms for years now which cooks the rom then signs and packs the nbh file into the RUU. I honestly have been looking for a kitchen but I dont think one exists as of yet...
Im not ready to load up YDL on my ps3 to figure out how to trim down an android rom.
Hopefully there will be a kitchen released on the same lines as say Ervius's Visual Kitchen. Just takes time. Took years for some real brains most being from this site and ppcgeeks to compile all the tools to make a rom like that.
Now that is helpful, posting up some bs like that is just rude and you deserved the reply. This site is to help not making it more difficult for people to learn how to do stuff. Just remember the short 11 months back when you joined did you know everything. Have you made any real attempt to contribute to this site or are all your posts from that sort of thing giving ****ty responses to serious questions.
Heres that link
http://lukasz.szmit.eu/2009/12/04/making-your-own-rooted-android-rom/
On a side note your both from NY settle it like men.
reeg420 said:
I honestly hate when people do that ****...
The guy has 70+ posts....has been a member since 2007 you really think that he didnt search here and on google..
Considering I have been searching both places myself for over a month and all I come up with is premade custom roms... No reading on how to make a custom rom myself... What really gets me is that I read and I seem to be more confused..
With android running RUU's and signed.nbh's. Why do we have to update via a zip file... In the article that explains how to make a custom rom I found just today he says that RUU's dont allow any customization. Which is funny to me because Ive been cooking WM roms for years now which cooks the rom then signs and packs the nbh file into the RUU. I honestly have been looking for a kitchen but I dont think one exists as of yet...
Im not ready to load up YDL on my ps3 to figure out how to trim down an android rom.
Hopefully there will be a kitchen released on the same lines as say Ervius's Visual Kitchen. Just takes time. Took years for some real brains most being from this site and ppcgeeks to compile all the tools to make a rom like that.
Now that is helpful, posting up some bs like that is just rude and you deserved the reply. This site is to help not making it more difficult for people to learn how to do stuff. Just remember the short 11 months back when you joined did you know everything. Have you made any real attempt to contribute to this site or are all your posts from that sort of thing giving ****ty responses to serious questions.
Heres that link
http://lukasz.szmit.eu/2009/12/04/making-your-own-rooted-android-rom/
On a side note your both from NY settle it like men.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just as jubeh has said, there isn't really a definitive way to cook roms. You either no, or you don't. I would first try to grab the stuff from aosp, and just piece together what comes after that
There isn't a kitchen for the dream/magic as far as I know, but the folks over at MoDaCo have kitchen's for other android phones (such as the Hero and Nexus).
JAguirre1231 said:
Just as jubeh has said, there isn't really a definitive way to cook roms. You either no, or you don't. I would first try to grab the stuff from aosp, and just piece together what comes after that
There isn't a kitchen for the dream/magic as far as I know, but the folks over at MoDaCo have kitchen's for other android phones (such as the Hero and Nexus).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well thats good to know that there is a kitchen for some android phones at least. I never even think about looking at MoDaCo..huh
Ill just wait for a kitchen because I dont have to time to learn all the manual commands to be honest with you. Its just my girls phone anyway..lol
I wish I had more time like I did when I learned how to do my own wm roms.
Wow just checked out the hero kitchen....Looks exciting. Online though?? Whatever's clever I guess. Im excited though cant wait for other releases. He says in the post it will be available for other roms when the kitchen is fully developed for the hero. woot
reeg420 said:
I honestly hate when people do that ****...
The guy has 70+ posts....has been a member since 2007 you really think that he didnt search here and on google..
Considering I have been searching both places myself for over a month and all I come up with is premade custom roms... No reading on how to make a custom rom myself... What really gets me is that I read and I seem to be more confused..
With android running RUU's and signed.nbh's. Why do we have to update via a zip file... In the article that explains how to make a custom rom I found just today he says that RUU's dont allow any customization. Which is funny to me because Ive been cooking WM roms for years now which cooks the rom then signs and packs the nbh file into the RUU. I honestly have been looking for a kitchen but I dont think one exists as of yet...
Im not ready to load up YDL on my ps3 to figure out how to trim down an android rom.
Hopefully there will be a kitchen released on the same lines as say Ervius's Visual Kitchen. Just takes time. Took years for some real brains most being from this site and ppcgeeks to compile all the tools to make a rom like that.
Now that is helpful, posting up some bs like that is just rude and you deserved the reply. This site is to help not making it more difficult for people to learn how to do stuff. Just remember the short 11 months back when you joined did you know everything. Have you made any real attempt to contribute to this site or are all your posts from that sort of thing giving ****ty responses to serious questions.
Heres that link
http://lukasz.szmit.eu/2009/12/04/making-your-own-rooted-android-rom/
On a side note your both from NY settle it like men.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is really not that hard to search. You mentioned him having 70+ posts... It makes him look more idiotic for not being able to find something, rather than making a new thread here.
I took 1 minute to find this post:
http://code.google.com/p/cyanogenmod/wiki/Building
Ofcourse from Google...
And to answer your question (as JA said earlier) there isn't a definitive way of cooking the rom. You either know it or you don't.
If you don't have the time to learn it, was it necessary to "rant" about how much you know and why people should just be frank about the answers on forums?
But you see what I'm talking about. YOU found another link for "cooking ROMs." If the OP actually dedicated some time, instead of thinking that he'll easily learn the language and become the next Cyanogen, he'll get some where. Developing ROMs is not an easy task, ask any of the devs, especially when you start out.
If you do not have the patience to learn and discover, you will get no where (I'm not referring directly to you). And honestly, setting up your computer to develop ROMs is, imo, the easiest part. If you can't get that, then developing will be a tedious task.
This is probably as close as you're gonna get to a guide.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=566235
(found with an xda search)

Android Development

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!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

New website!!! Just for us!!!

Let me know what you guys think???
A place for rookies and anvance hackers - testing ROMS and stuff!
VerizonTBolt
www.verizontbolt.webuda.com
Nicw thanks
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA
frankzua77 said:
Let me know what you guys think???
A place for rookies and anvance hackers - testing ROMS and stuff!
VerizonTBolt
www.verizontbolt.webuda.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't take this the wrong way, but creating a website for the Thunderbolt right now is like showing up late to a party with a 12 pack of Bud Light. Everyone will be happy you came, but you didn't bring anything that wasn't already there. Now, if you show up with a bottle of Single Barrel Jack Daniel's, you will be the shiznit at the party. So, if you can, please try to bring something different to your website. With that said, I'll be sure to keep checking on your site, it's always nice to have more people at the party.
COMING SOON!!!!!!!
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA
!
Thanks for the input guys!
TheBeardedMann said:
Don't take this the wrong way, but creating a website for the Thunderbolt right now is like showing up late to a party with a 12 pack of Bud Light. Everyone will be happy you came, but you didn't bring anything that wasn't already there. Now, if you show up with a bottle of Single Barrel Jack Daniel's, you will be the shiznit at the party. So, if you can, please try to bring something different to your website. With that said, I'll be sure to keep checking on your site, it's always nice to have more people at the party.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest, I love this idea. It's kind of hard to find updated roms and mods for any phone, not to mention the Thunderbolt. BeardedMan... Why is making a website like this, which will (hopefully) be a good hub for Thunderbolt mods and roms, getting "late to the party?" Is there another website out there like this, besides the android forms or Rom Manager? If there is, I'd like to know.
frankzua77, I would like to say thank you. If this website becomes what I think it will, it will make modding the Thunderbolt so much easier. If you need any help, just let me know.
I think the problem beardedman is referencing is the fact that there are a lot of android websites/forums already (even thunderbolt specific) and that there are a lot of much newer phones getting the attention. I have yet to not find anything I'm looking for without a 10 second search on Google. And the Thunderbolt is real close to being yesterday's superphone, if it's not already.
Plus, the problem with any of these sites is someone has to maintain it...which means sifting through posts, updating daily, etc. Unless it's a wiki that anyone can update, it's the same reason that the stickies all get outdated. Heck, it's the same reason I've started threads on many forums for many topics trying to compile information and eventually given up.
Now that I've rained on the parade and come off as a prick, I do applaud the effort...even if it doesn't stay updated or become the hub you imagine, at least you have an idea and a passion and are trying to do something about it. Don't lose that. And who knows...maybe it's just what the community needs
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/htc-thunderbolt-forum/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=940
http://www.teambamf.net/index.php/forum/15-htc-thunderbolt/
http://themikmik.com/forumdisplay.php?1004-HTC-Thunderbolt-ROM-Development
http://androidforums.com/htc-thunderbolt/
I have a "Thunderbolt" folder in my Bookmarks (just like I used to with my Incredible) that I have the five links in. I can open all the links and catch up with all the newest Thunderbolt news, for the most part. And the Thunderbolt is old news actually, just being honest.
TUDrewser understood what I meant, I wasn't being rude. ThunderNet, trying checking the above sites, I bet you'll find answers to whatever questions you have.
ThunderNet said:
To be honest, I love this idea. It's kind of hard to find updated roms and mods for any phone, not to mention the Thunderbolt. BeardedMan... Why is making a website like this, which will (hopefully) be a good hub for Thunderbolt mods and roms, getting "late to the party?" Is there another website out there like this, besides the android forms or Rom Manager? If there is, I'd like to know.
frankzua77, I would like to say thank you. If this website becomes what I think it will, it will make modding the Thunderbolt so much easier. If you need any help, just let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please see my sig..
Users can submit a MOD, Downlad mods or whatever right from the web.
Still a WIP, but just needs attention.
Not knocking this idea at all, but should really consider opening it up to a wiki format and not center only on the thunderbolt.
!
I really appreciate everyone that makes their point, I am currently working on the page. One of my goals is to have videos that can show you a ROM even before you consider downloading it. I know we are focusing on the tbolt, who knows maybe later on this expands to having other phones and stuff...
I need your help on deciding on a domain name! Right now im using a free domain service but I would like to purchase a domain, any ideas???
Also please click on the ads on the bottom as this is how the site will be funded for right now.
www.verizontbolt.webuda.com
Interesting
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA

[Q] Learn to develop - Suggestions for where to start?

Hey guys, I'm a massive tech nerd and absoloutely love Android and its customizability. I love flashing roms, and kernels to test different combinations to see what offers the best performance.
I don't have any experience programming or developing, but I'm very good with computers and technology in general. I figure I can handle learning how to code, but have no idea where to start researching. I would love to be able to make my own custom ROM someday.
Any good resources for learning to code for Android? Can any devs point me in the right direction for where to start?
Thanks.
Have you read any guides like this?
I wanted to start porting but the first one I tried bootlooped about 10 times, so I gave up for the time being :/
I would look at the guides from developers have posted in this forum
Best of luck
Spend a few months learning to java and everything will make sense.
Sent from my Incredible S using xda premium
I'll definitely be reading as much guides written by devs here as possible. Awesome I'll also look into java. Thanks for the suggestions.

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