Any advice on where to start if interested in ROM Development? - Galaxy Tab 8.9 General

Although I appreciate the work that the developers have put into their GTab 8.9 ROMs, I am a little disappointed in the lack of selction to choose from.
Lets just say I was interested in trying this myself...
Where would I begin?
Do you need to know a lot of coding to do this? (I am a mechanical engineer by training, but have a great deal of computer know-how.)
I don't have massive amounts of free time available (I have 2 kids aged 2 and 4), so family time occupies the majority of my time.
This is probably never going to happen, but I was just wondering what was involved in doing this work.
Thanks in advance!
PS: I am a Mac user - not sure if this hinders me or not, but I can dual boot into windows 7 when needed.

just a noob answer..
first.. What kind of interest you choose?
If you choose performance or overclocking you can start from kernel development..
You need windows or linux/unix Environment to do that..
If you want to build the ROM from the start, you can choose AOSP,ask developer if you want to help them..
Or maybe you can start from Odex and deodex stock ROM, zipalining, tweaking some buildprop, theming with framework..
Most of the tools for that is build for Linux and Windows, i dont know for MAC user..
Hope this help a little for you..
Edit: by the way this not QA section, you post in wrong section Moderator will move this..

Questions or Problems Should Not Be Posted in the Development Forum
Please Post in the Correct Forums & Read the Forum Rules
Moving to Q&A

Related

Any Resources For Getting Started With Modding

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

Noob question: can you explain me ROMs, Kernels, Radio, Mods, etc ?

Hi all,
I'm quite new to this android stuff, and especially modding. And I have to tell that I feel a bit lost.
After a few days browsing this forum and other places on the internet, I think I know what a ROM and rooting are. But here I see things like kernels, radio, bootloaders... could someone explain me what those are and how they are related together? Or show me an url that explains all this.
Thanks a lot!
Bricolo_fr said:
Hi all,
I'm quite new to this android stuff, and especially modding. And I have to tell that I feel a bit lost.
After a few days browsing this forum and other places on the internet, I think I know what a ROM and rooting are. But here I see things like kernels, radio, bootloaders... could someone explain me what those are and how they are related together? Or show me an url that explains all this.
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not real sure how to explain all this stuff in great detail but i will try and tell you all that i know. I think a kernel has to do with the drivers and things like that. A radio has to do with the everything that uses connections, i guess you would call it. Like your phone's network, wifi, bluetooth, etc. And for the bootloader i don't really know how to explain it but press and hold the power button and the trackball at the same time. thats the bootloader.
This should help some... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=619153
Bricolo_fr said:
Hi all,
I'm quite new to this android stuff, and especially modding. And I have to tell that I feel a bit lost.
After a few days browsing this forum and other places on the internet, I think I know what a ROM and rooting are. But here I see things like kernels, radio, bootloaders... could someone explain me what those are and how they are related together? Or show me an url that explains all this.
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Bricolo!
Welcome to the forums!
I'll help you out here, but you're going to have to do some work too.
How about I do two, and you do two?
[Google]: android "what is a rom"
http://forum.androidcentral.com/hacking/6037-general-rom-faq.html
If you’re new to the Android platform (don’t be bashful, all of us were not too long ago), you’ll see terms floating around the forums that you might not be familiar with. “ROM” is one of those terms. A ROM image is a data file that contains information used on a Read Only Memory chip. For our purposes, that means a complete system image of an Android device. Each Android device has it’s own ROM image that contains files and code needed to boot the device up and run Android on it. But this is only part of a ROM. A ROM also contains a GUI (graphical user interface), required and useful applications, support files for those applications and the kernel. Let’s have a look at the parts that make a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-general-discussions/37418-what-rom.html
"ROM" is just a generic term for the software that makes up the OS, and a bit of a misnomer. This term could easily be changed to "OS sofware" or "system software". It does mean Read Only Memory, but ROM likely comes from that part of the system memory, since you dont want to be able to write over the system files (easily).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[Google]: android "what is a kernel"
http://androidforums.com/developer-101/62548-what-kernel.html
A kernel is basically the bridge between applications and the data processing at the hardware level. It serves as a level of abstraction for communication.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.applematters.com/article/how-long-will-apple-keep-the-mach-microkernel/
The easy answer is a kernel is the core of any operating system. DOS, Windows, UNIX, OS X and Linux all have some type of kernel. The implementations change but the basic concept remains the same. A kernel interfaces directly with the system’s hardware and is the lowest level of software. There are two types of kernels, micro-kernels and monolithic-kernels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[Google]: android "what is a radio"
Your site(s) here.
[Google]: android "what is a bootloader"
You can do it!
[Google]: android "what is a X"
Google: It really is that easy
Good stuff Paul, it's refreshing to see someone go out of their way to help a newbie every once in a while
There are more polite ways to respond to this guy. Some people learn through interaction. I'm glad someone went out of their way to explain things to this guy. It's a shame how cut throat this community can be sometimes.
I agree, the attitude and lame jokes are really immature at times. Thanks paul for putting a lil effort and explaining few of the key points than cracking the usual radio is a fm/am joke here, the extreme nerdism almost kills me! lol.
As for the cutthroat and "nerdism" out there in this community, you have to remember, most of us that are regulars are ones that have been on this forum for a loooooooong while and not just in the Nexus One sections. I have migrated from WM to Android and see these posts time and time again.
There are Stickied "Noob" guilds galore, there is a search feature, there are TONS of resources out there for someone who puts in a MINIMAL effort can get this BASIC information.
When I first came here, I didn't just open a new post on "what is a ROM and ..." I read, I researched and when something wasn't clear and needed more information that wasn't out there, THEN I posted.
Those of us that may seem like we have an attitude aren't mean people, we don't expect everyone to come here with all the answers an NO questions, we just have an expectation that they at least put forth a LITTLE effort on figuring something out.
Paul did a great job in searching, but you have to wonder why the OP didn't even TRY and google anything or search here?
The impression I got is that it is not worth the OP's time to even try, so they put up a post asking these questions and expected the community to do all the work for them and compile some massive resource into a post that the OP most likely won't read and then start asking questions that were already answered in replies or links.
I have seen this happen time and time again on this board and others, so yeah, I am a bit of a jerk when someone puts forth no effort of their own.
Thanks a lot, Paul and the guys that helped
About me asking, and being new here... I DID search on this forum, but didn't find everything I needed. I used the search function, read the sticky threads, googled... After this, I still had questions, meaning that the information I got was not sufficient and that the additional information I was seeking wasn't accessible enough here. So that's why I asked.
If you don't like new people asking questions, but only expect new members to be experienced ones that will arrive with software/tricks/roms/etc "gifts" for you,you should reconsider your lifes. Maybe as sultans or something similar I agree with the remark about nerdy attitudes. Do you really think this is needed? If my topic is unwanted here, some people called moderators will lock or delete it, it seems it hasn't happened so far...
Back to the initial topic...
Well, maybe I did not make things clear enough. I'm not a complete computer noob. I know what a ROM is (not being specific to android devices), what an OS is, how to write a few lines of code, etc...
From what I understood, the bootloader can be see as the bios in a PC. It can execute a few tasks (diagnostics, rom flash, starting the OS...). The ROM contains the OS, software, config, etc...
As I said, what I don't really see is how all the things are related to each other. On this forum (and other places) I see a lot of alternative ROMs. I do understand what they are and their use. However I also see topics about kernels and radios, and that got me a bit lost. Aren't they already included in the ROMs?
Also, I'd like to learn a bit about how alternative ROMs are created. When additional features (applications?) are added to a ROM (features that were existing on other devices), is it "simply" the application files that from the other device that have been included to the ROM? When new features are added (not coming from other devices, like trackball led), how is that made? I assume it is added to the code somewhere, so is all the code available?
Thanks for helping
I'm going to move this thread to the Q&A section, and also clean up the noob bashing. Remember, not only is bashing discouraged throughout the entire site, but doing it in the Q&A section will likely earn you a short vacation from XDA.
Thanks,
NATF

custom font

Hi friend i want you to tell me how to add custom font in android app development in eclipse , i want to use my font but i dont know to code it in java, i used method of get assest after i put the custom font in font folder in assest folder but when open app it hang and force closr*
Hi friend, I kindly would like to ask you to fulfill your majestic demand.
so, to find a help, you should start to learn how to use the word: "please", as the beginning of your requests, your majesty.
Secondly, if your magnificence will learn that, it may be a good idea to learn how to use search function in this forum. After years of learning, you should be able to find That. More years spent on the learning how to read with understanding, your majesty, and hopefully you will deiscover that the mentioned thread leads to Secret Place, where no java coding knowledge is required to make your own fonts for android device.
I hope, that my servant's advice would please Your Majesty, if not, please disregard this what was wrote by
Unworthy Servant of Your (pathetic) Majesty
spamtrash said:
Hi friend, I kindly would like to ask you to fulfill your majestic demand.
so, to find a help, you should start to learn how to use the word: "please", as the beginning of your requests, your majesty.
Secondly, if your magnificence will learn that, it may be a good idea to learn how to use search function in this forum. After years of learning, you should be able to find That. More years spent on the learning how to read with understanding, your majesty, and hopefully you will deiscover that the mentioned thread leads to Secret Place, where no java coding knowledge is required to make your own fonts for android device.
I hope, that my servant's advice would please Your Majesty, if not, please disregard this what was wrote by
Unworthy Servant of Your (pathetic) Majesty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best reply ever. Haha
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
He does start 'hi friend'. Possibly a bit heavy on the sarcasm?
maybe, you're right - anyway, the solution should work

New to XDA, and new to Handsets.

Hello all. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Mansevolver, and I came here from overclock.net; I was a Aircooling and News Editor there, but have since relinquished my position and titles there. I'm still active in the Enthusiast computing scene for my personal life, but my online en devours have lead me to Handsets, and modifications pertaining to them.
I build, overclock, and benchmark computers, and I'm quite competent with tech.
Iv'e come here in hope to learn how to root my Epic 4G Touch. My goals with it are to remove and optimize my device to increase speed and battery life.
Again, I'm a desktop computer person, so forgive me if I don't know the terminology or if I don't know something about 'em.
I assume I would have to do a Root and remove software, programs, ECT, in order to cut down on background application uses, and RAM usage?
This is a two-in-one thread, both introducing myself, and trying to figure out what I will want/need to do.
(I'm also more then willing to assist anyone here with hardcore overclocking, or anything in regards to PC gaming.
I apologize for any spelling or grammar errors, I don't know much to say; for the sake of "TL;DR"
I'm familiar with computers and not phones.
I want to learn about handsets and networks.
I want to Root my handset.
I will help anyone with what I specialize in.
Hopefully I can learn, and as well contribute to XDA.
Bump.
Moved to General.
TeeJay3800 said:
Moved to General.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you.
Please start here: [GUIDE] How to be a New User (and not a noob)
Then go here: Epic 4G Touch Forums
Good Luck!
I would suggest going to the phones personal forum on here, and at the top there probly will be a sticky with a guide on how to root your phone.
They are very good guides.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Anyone got a diff/patch from nvidia's stock to our kernel?

As the title says, i'm mainly asking because i do believe that moving on with newer nvidia hardfp compatible blobs and merging with newer kernels is fully possible.
What i mainly need is just the diff, a patch format will work too.
I'd ask in the Original Dev section but i'm restricted for ten posts and rather than wasting ten posts i though i'd ask something useful.
IcanhasLG said:
Not quite what i was looking for, i'm looking to port it to 3.10 but without the basic LGE diff stuff it's... well to do it takes a couple of weeks but without a diff it will be mainly guesswork.
the point would be that i'm willing to spend the time if someone can give me the LGE specific diff from stock Nvidia.
And i've been a dev in linux for arm for over 20 years and a dev for android for over 3 years now, i am not requesting anything any user can help me with, this is strictly an original dev question.
If you want to make this real hard, only the AOSP team and the various manufacurer devs should have access to original development, development would be for app programmers only and the other forums would be for you, i'd still be in the original code forum.
I don't know what is wrong with this forum, i have never in my life encountered a forum where users of a mobile wants to get rid of developers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not a developer, for sure, and I repeat to you that your skills and your effort are appreciated, at least by me.. But I'm quite a lawyer, and a general rule says that when you agree to a community, accepting a social pact or a "terms and policy" act, you are supposed to read and understand them, and if you don't know them, you have to read and act according to them.. These are the bases of any civil society, group, community, the same bases which force unskilled or inexperienced members to read everything before asking, for example.. So, if everyone could act as he wants, every thread here should be full of questions, ETAs, etc.. I can't be more clear than this, so I repeat it for the last time: you're a Dev, I'm not; you've Dev knowledge I haven't; I hope your work will be profitable, and I'll thank you so much when you will eventually reach your goal.. But we have some rules, and everyone has to respect them..
Sent from my LG-P880 - Beanstalk 4.4.2 - Iodak 9.95 kernel - using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
just wanted to say that one of devs which seems to have abandoned our device, kholk with eternityproject, has semi-successfully based his kernel for our device on 3.4 version. perhaps his work can be of some help for you?

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