I am self taught on just about all things programming and am looking for a decent/thorough guide on making custom ROMs for my shiny new Nexus S. Any suggestions on books or internet based resources that I could use to start into this?
I would really like to start contributing to the community and all I need is a push in the right direction...i am sure there are many other folks that would like to start as well.
Thanks!
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I've been a member of XDA Forums since about October (when I got my vibrant). And I wad wondering how to become a developer. I feel like I should help contribute to this community instead of just being someone downloading and flashing. Im planning on majoring in computer science in college and I know it will help me with this type of stuff but I cant wait another year (Junior in high school)... I would really appreciate it if you guys would point me in the right direction or take me under your wing so I could pursue this interest.
dcaples002 said:
I've been a member of XDA Forums since about October (when I got my vibrant). And I wad wondering how to become a developer. I feel like I should help contribute to this community instead of just being someone downloading and flashing. Im planning on majoring in computer science in college and I know it will help me with this type of stuff but I cant wait another year (Junior in high school)... I would really appreciate it if you guys would point me in the right direction or take me under your wing so I could pursue this interest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm doing computer science also to become a dev, I'm a senior! I have no idea, but I would love to dev also, I know it takes a lot of work though.
Step 1 - cut a hole in the box
step 2 - put your junk in the box
step 3 - make her open the box
step 4 - and that's how you do it (its my d$#* in a box)
haha naw i'm jk, I would like a clear way on how to dev specifically for the vibrant, I've seen a bunch of different ideas and tutorials on how to do it, but their specific for that phone, and its hard to comprehend on how to put the knowledge to the vibrant
Yea I know its alot of hard work but it will all pay off in the end.
I think it would be nice if one of the vibrant developers put up a video of how to become a developer and a video of him/her cooking up a rom. Im sure alot of people would take intrest to that. It would also give us enough knowledge to maybe be able to develop other phones or programs.
Learn your way around a linux box as it's pretty much necessary to compile source and what not. If you're wanting to develop programs for Android, learn some Java...
there's a few good e-books on amazon for android developing if you can learn from books.
I think you should start out with themes....so you know exactly which apks control what...which XMLs control what...then get some Linux knowledge so you can know how to tweak for speed....then start to learn some Java and Smali code....and do a sh*t load of research....i tried to create my own ROM based from official Vibrant source....MAJOR FAIL ...i think my phone went into shock ....but find someone who is willing to teach you...but make sure you're patient enough to learn.
Due to the nature of vibrant roms anyone can be a developer! That's a good and bad thing. Anyways... best way to learn is to learn Java. Android is built on it. It may not loom like it on the surface but it helps (ask whitehawk). Mr apocalypse's advice is probably the best.
Also a video is a horrible idea(no offense). It will empower people who have no business making roms to make them. Do you want people who don't know how to make a flashable zip making roms for your phone? It could potentially lead to bad things...
I was where you were a couple years ago (not that I'm much further ahead). Learn you some Linux. Learn you some theming and try and make a simple app for android.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
This maybe premature but I figured I would throw it out there; is there any devs who could tell me about the skill level or difficulty level of making new roms or tweaking existing roms? I'm learning about java programming and using j creator and eclipse. I'm still new but I'm a fast learner. I want to help out the charge community by keeping an active dev. I'm still a time away from that but want more insight..... Please no sarcastic remarks.... Thanks.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
I'm attempting to start teaching myself this as well. The advice I've gotten is to start ofs theming. That way you can break open the apks and see what's inside, get a feel for how to change things and reassemble packages without doing any major work, and then expand from there. I'm in the process of changing jobs and cities, but I'm going to start playing around with things after I get settled.
a lot depends on what you want to do
developing for oem skin (touchwiz roms in this case) is a lot different than aosp
aosp requires a lot of java knowledge, and depending on the phone can be somewhat easy (nexus phones source will boot without changes) to nearly impossible (this phone)
touchwiz roms require some basic tools (7zip, smali/backsmali, apktool, rom kitchens or terminal knowledge) as well as some smali knowledge and countless hours of just figuring stuff out
many of us got our start as themers, from which you (over time) gain knowledge on rom layouts, where things are located, xml/smali editing, making update.zips and updater-scripts, and the like
you dont *need* to necessarily use linux to work on tw roms, but it certainly helps imo...although most of the tools out there work in windows too
my suggestion?: download a stock rom and download a heavily modded one of the same build (infiniti/gummycharged) and compare them with kdiff and decompile the apks to get an idea of what was changed
its a good starting point
Sweet, thanks for the advice. I am learning java pretty quick but realistically it would probably be a year before I'm proficient. I also just added computer programming as a minor. I would like another phone, the nexus obviously, but I need to chill on buying phones. I love aosp- if that was possible that would be great, but getting started anywhere is good. Thanks for your help fellas.... I'll keep you all posted here on my progress...
I know that the java language will help-but comparing will help me get acquainted with android. So far I've learned everything from forums so this is a new direction...
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
For those following who may want this information. I had a response from imnuts in RootzWiki where I posted this same question. Here's what he said as well. He complemented the answers already given- I also followed up on a list of software to help get started.
http://rootzwiki.com/topic/11184-new-roms/
Thx for starting up this thread. I'm actually lookin into rom dev as well and this thread has some great starting blocks in it +1 for u dude
I've done a quick search and haven't had any luck with where to start up.
I'm no beginner when it comes to rooting and flashing, just one the code side of things. I don't like it when people are sitting there and asking the devs "When will we get this?" or "Why is this taking so long?! XYZ ROM already has it!" So I want to start developing ROMs for myself (and maybe put it up in the future once it gets good enough).
I don't want to be building of any current ROMs, I want to build from AOSP.
I'm not asking for a guide but just where to get started and where to move on from there. I know I need to know Java, but how MUCH exactly? Do I need to know everything thing there is before moving forward? Once I'm comfortable with Java, where do I move on from there? I want some sort of checklist.
I don't need a guide, I'll grab the books and the courses myself. Just a basic path to follow would be fantastic.
Anyone want to help an up and coming ROM developer? :fingers-crossed:
Kandydish said:
I've done a quick search and haven't had any luck with where to start up.
I'm no beginner when it comes to rooting and flashing, just one the code side of things. I don't like it when people are sitting there and asking the devs "When will we get this?" or "Why is this taking so long?! XYZ ROM already has it!" So I want to start developing ROMs for myself (and maybe put it up in the future once it gets good enough).
I don't want to be building of any current ROMs, I want to build from AOSP.
I'm not asking for a guide but just where to get started and where to move on from there. I know I need to know Java, but how MUCH exactly? Do I need to know everything thing there is before moving forward? Once I'm comfortable with Java, where do I move on from there? I want some sort of checklist.
I don't need a guide, I'll grab the books and the courses myself. Just a basic path to follow would be fantastic.
Anyone want to help an up and coming ROM developer? :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the aosp source, most of it is c++, the framework is java, and kernels are c.
Sent from my One S
Hi @all,
I'm posting this on XDA because I think most flash-a-holics "live" here and I'm sure most (if not all) of you know the problem.
You want to buy a new phone and you are looking for ROMs, check if the bootloader is easily unlockable etc.
As of now you have to do multiple Google searches and go through about 5 forums until you have found the answer you want.
Or you already have your phone and are looking for a new ROM.
So you're browsing the XDA section for your device and find about a thousand threads with ROMs and eventually you take one of the big ROMs you've already known since your first flash (speaking of CyanogenMod, AOKP, MIUI and so on)
So wouldn't it be cool (and I think it would) if all was just on one site easily discoverable and you were presented just the information you need?
That's what I'm trying to achieve with Project RomView.
I hope it's understandable what I mean.
Because I know it's quite impossible to do it all alone I'm looking for people (<10) who like the idea and would be ready to contribute in any form.
And please only if you really want to!
I'm looking for people who can do one of those things:
- Do UI/UX design.
- Code an Android app
- Have good knowledge about web-development (i.e. PHP, JavaScript,...)
- Know how to work with databases (preferably MySQL)
- Cook ROMs themselves and can help telling what they need to have in such a platform, so that they would offer their ROMs on it.
- and maybe some more people for beta testing and so on.
Or if you just want to give your own two cents, feel free to tell me what you think.
I'm looking forward to hearing every opinion (as long as it is constructive. If you just want to tell me that I suck, you can keep it for yourself, thanks!).
Cheers,
land.apfel
PS: I'm not sure if I'm in the right section. If I'm not, please move the thread. Thanks.
PPS: I have already achieved some very early progress but I don't want to give out anything else as of now.
Reserved (just in case)
Also reserved (just in case the first case is not case enough )
If you want i can help with graphic
Thank you very much for offering your help, but unfortunately I think it's hopeless to do any efforts as long as there aren't any developers who're ready to offer their ROMs on RomView.
Hello every one I'm new here and love it!! I'm actually a noob at this but want to learn and gets my attention, something new for once and love everything about electronic a but never looked into it until now and so far love it and no regrets .with that being said I want to learn more about what my phone can be capable of ,been reading alot of forums, info and stuff like that but none fit my category. So since I'm new at this I don't any computer or laptop so a little bit harder for me to find out how to:
MODIFY ROM
REMOVE BOOTLOADER
ROOT MY PHONE
OR ANY OTHER MODS OR APPS
So please if you guys can help me out with anything
I'll appreciate it ,any apps, mods, or downloads that I can do just using
The phone I'll really appreciate just starting this but looking forward on getting computer. Love the, app and forums and definetely
Staying a member and keep learning. Thank you and have a nice day.