[Q] Porting From an Older Version of Android to a Newer One - General Questions and Answers

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of some information on porting from one version of android to a higher version. Preferably from 1.6 Donut to 2.2 Froyo or 2.3 Gingerbread. Is this even possible?
Also, could anyone tell me what phone I could use that is similar to the Behold II (SGH-t939)? Is the Behold II in the cyanogen repo? If it is, anyone know it's codename?
I have a build environment set up for cyanogenmod, and I followed this guide. I have got to the gpg import and was wondering if the gpg block is device specific somehow or if it is universal.
Tying in to my first question, is whether there is any way I could get the proprietary files and kernel information out of a rom file instead of off the phone. I have a custom rom installed on the phone that isn't working 100% but I don't really want to put the oem rom back on. Unless I absolutely have to.
Also, once I do actually get the proprietary information and kernel stuff, how exactly do I incorporate all that into a new build?
Sorry, I am just starting to learn about android development and need some guidance. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Related

[Q] Getting Started With Custom ROM'ing

printf("Hello XDA!");
I haven't posted much, but I've spent a lot of time on these forums and flashed a few custom roms on my captivate as well. I'm a final-year computer science student and now I want to jump into the android source code.
I have some operating systems experience, I took the OS class at my university and ended up with a C (more due to external factors than the difficulty of the course).
Does anyone have any tips on where to start or how to make sense of the very large source distribution? I installed ubuntu, set up my repo, and downloaded the AOSP FroYo and Gingerbread sources. I think that, for my first project, as a way to learn about what goes into making a ROM, I want to post the AOSP FroYo source to the captivate and just have a pure AOSP build running on my phone. Can anyone point me to some resources or information to help me get started?
Thanks a lot!
how to create ROMs - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=928955
and I think someone is already working on AOSP froyo - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=951653
Actually I meant more like resources about how the android source is laid out, which source files to edit to make a custom rom, which source files control which parts of the phone, etc. I've already seen the guide you linked to putting together a custom ROM.
And even if someone is working on AOSP Froyo, I want to do this to learn about how the Android OS works so that I can go on to developing better ROMs

[Q] ASOP Sidekick 4G ROM?

Am I the only one who is unhappy with the slim pickings of ROMs that are available for the SK4G?
Does anyone know anything about an ASOP ROM?
It's AOSP (Android Open Source Project) and you're not the only one not happy with the current SK4G options. I personally want MIUI or CM7, but seeing as we're currently stuck with Froyo, we'll have to see what the devs can cook up.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA App
For future reference, questions go in the General forum, not the Development Forum.
As for AOSP or MIUI, I know that AyoTeddy and Revolution are currently working on separate MIUI roms, and for AOSP, I'm working on that, but not sure exactly what you want from AOSP that's different from what we have?
If you are unhappy with the selection of ROMS here, you are always welcome to make your own, android is open source for a reason.
sduvick said:
For future reference, questions go in the General forum, not the Development Forum.
As for AOSP or MIUI, I know that AyoTeddy and Revolution are currently working on separate MIUI roms, and for AOSP, I'm working on that, but not sure exactly what you want from AOSP that's different from what we have?
If you are unhappy with the selection of ROMS here, you are always welcome to make your own, android is open source for a reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they want the real miui we will need some sort of aosp gingerbread to start with and a custom CM7 kernel or something.. Since we dont have either yet I guess we'll have to make the best out of what we have now like we have been. But those wanting a taste of miui may like what I have planned for my next release.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
ayoteddy said:
If they want the real miui we will need some sort of aosp gingerbread to start with and a custom CM7 kernel or something.. Since we dont have either yet I guess we'll have to make the best out of what we have now like we have been. But those wanting a taste of miui may like what I have planned for my next release.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And so anticipation had set in, i can't wait ayoteddy. im very excited. SMX was great, and SMGC was awesome, and now with this? whewwww. think i better go lay down, lol.
I'm also interested in porting CM7 to Sk4g cause I'm used to when I had G1 and now I'm using Sk4g without it.
I have programming skill and understanding of linux architecture. I've read about android architecture and AOSP and how to build Cyanogen from source. I'm running a tech firm (about 30 employees) - we are developing games that's why I don't have enough time to port it faster but I'm going to do it in a month or two.
So, I need help from experienced dev for android who is willing to build AOSP rom for Sk4g.
Here is what I'm going to do:
1) I'm gonna try to build Kd1 rom from source (there is an opensource code from samsung) and flash it to my Sk4g
2) Change the platform in original source to AOSP 2.2 and remove all TMOBILE apps - then build and flash
3) I'll try to find all hardware specs of the phone to compare with other samsung devices. It can help to exctract proprietary drivers of the phone. I think that the drivers are commonly the same, but I need to identify it.
After that I'm gonna upgrade to AOSP 2.3 but I don't have enough knowledge right now. Can some experienced devs answer the questions:
1) Are the linux kernels of AOSP 2.2 and 2.3 identical?
2) Can I use device drivers from 2.2 on 2.3?
If someone is interested in this project - please let me know and let's start the job. I think that my progress wouldn't be fast due to lack of time.
Thank you for joining the Sidekick 4G section , & we welcome you but if you want you could pause the game's for the ROM if anything & Question 1 is a no & Question 2 no cause they have to be compiled with the 2.3 kernel .
- Said by Sduvick
jmpz said:
I'm also interested in porting CM7 to Sk4g cause I'm used to when I had G1 and now I'm using Sk4g without it.
I have programming skill and understanding of linux architecture. I've read about android architecture and AOSP and how to build Cyanogen from source. I'm running a tech firm (about 30 employees) - we are developing games that's why I don't have enough time to port it faster but I'm going to do it in a month or two.
So, I need help from experienced dev for android who is willing to build AOSP rom for Sk4g.
Here is what I'm going to do:
1) I'm gonna try to build Kd1 rom from source (there is an opensource code from samsung) and flash it to my Sk4g
2) Change the platform in original source to AOSP 2.2 and remove all TMOBILE apps - then build and flash
3) I'll try to find all hardware specs of the phone to compare with other samsung devices. It can help to exctract proprietary drivers of the phone. I think that the drivers are commonly the same, but I need to identify it.
After that I'm gonna upgrade to AOSP 2.3 but I don't have enough knowledge right now. Can some experienced devs answer the questions:
1) Are the linux kernels of AOSP 2.2 and 2.3 identical?
2) Can I use device drivers from 2.2 on 2.3?
If someone is interested in this project - please let me know and let's start the job. I think that my progress wouldn't be fast due to lack of time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Revolution, thanks for relaying my responses.
jmpz, I tried building the source before, but was unable to build it completely, but that was possibly because of some errors with my dependencies. The kernel compiles fine from source, you just need to pull initramfs, or you can get it from Dr. Honk's github.
Thank you for your answers.
So, can anyone enumerate the list of drivers which we should extract from kernel?
I can name these:
1) Keyboard
2) Mic
3) 2 speakers
4) buttons
5) front camera
6) rear camera
7) trackpoint
8) lcd
9) digitizer
10) 3.5 jack
Please correct me and add missing
If I understanding it rightly the key problem is getting proprietary drivers from the kernel. Right?
nope, the key problem is trying to build the system entirely, without any errors, which may be easier with someone following a stock designed build environment. I don't use Ubuntu which is what has the listed dependencies for every tutorial I can find. You can get the drivers out of Dr. Honk's voodoo kernel ramdisk here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1145139
There shouldn't be any problems if you just set up a build environment following the directions in any of the tutorials, then add the platform from the samsung source.
I'm a linuxoid - so these tutorial are for me. Thank you for the link.
By the way, drivers are in Linux Kernel, so I don't think that I need to use Samsung Platform from the source. Instead I wanna use platform from AOSP or Cyanogen. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I think that grabbing drivers from kernel source from samsung would be enough to build the rom.
jmpz said:
I'm also interested in porting CM7 to Sk4g cause I'm used to when I had G1 and now I'm using Sk4g without it.
I have programming skill and understanding of linux architecture. I've read about android architecture and AOSP and how to build Cyanogen from source. I'm running a tech firm (about 30 employees) - we are developing games that's why I don't have enough time to port it faster but I'm going to do it in a month or two.
So, I need help from experienced dev for android who is willing to build AOSP rom for Sk4g.
Here is what I'm going to do:
1) I'm gonna try to build Kd1 rom from source (there is an opensource code from samsung) and flash it to my Sk4g
2) Change the platform in original source to AOSP 2.2 and remove all TMOBILE apps - then build and flash
3) I'll try to find all hardware specs of the phone to compare with other samsung devices. It can help to exctract proprietary drivers of the phone. I think that the drivers are commonly the same, but I need to identify it.
After that I'm gonna upgrade to AOSP 2.3 but I don't have enough knowledge right now. Can some experienced devs answer the questions:
1) Are the linux kernels of AOSP 2.2 and 2.3 identical?
2) Can I use device drivers from 2.2 on 2.3?
If someone is interested in this project - please let me know and let's start the job. I think that my progress wouldn't be fast due to lack of time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I 100% support your efforts. I want Cyanogen on the SK4G badly, but I'm not sure what kind of help a non-programmer like me could do, but do have some experience with flashing phones and such, so if there is anything you need let me know.
If you do get rolling heavily on this, I'd be willing to donate monetarily to your efforts.
If anyone can get CyanogenMod 7 on the Sidekick they would definetely get a donation from me. Id be thrilled. Glad to see its going to be worked on.
Sent from my Sidekick 4G using XDA Premium App!

[Q] cyberjam 3g 2.1-how to make this app2sd compatible

hi,
as the title suggests, i would like to make a custom rom for this device... either modify the current 2.1 rom and make it app2sd compatible or make a 2.2 or higher rom that natively supports it...
i just need some info... firstly, which would be the easier thing to do?
if modifying the stock rom, what would i need to do 2 make it app2sd compatible?
if making a custom rom, how would i go about doing that?
i would imagine its possibly like getting a windows os and adding drivers for a specific machine before instalation... except in this case i think its a custom build.prop right? any help is much aprieciated...
oh and a final thought, if i make a mirror of the stock rom which bits can ibuse from it 2 aid me in the making of a new rom? id ideally like a 2.3.7 cyanogenmod7 rom just coz my current device (hd2) has a cyanogenmod7 rom and it works flawlessly... i do have a few hd2 android builds, can i disect these and modify them from what i have on the cyberjam?
basically i have a lot of apps and would like 2 have hardly any limitation on how many i can have as opposed to having 4-5 n gettin the memory getting full warning...
again, thanks in advance...
better still, add a forum for this device and have a big long list of compatible roms lol...
and finally, (another p.s)
there is a device which is very simmilar called a bsense 383.
now this does have a 2.2 rom available, only difference i can see is the cpu in the bsense is dual core aparently... the other hardware appears to be the same (haven't seen a list of every part inside both but the few parts i have seen are the same minus the aforementioned cpu)
so i look forward to your reply and hope that this is possible and plausable...
thanks, luke
31 views and noone can help me? come on xda community... surely someone can help me out...
Just read up on dsixda kitchen and once you get it installed in the right environment you can run pretty much any Rom through it and add that feature along with many other things. As long as you don't redistribute someone else's work, its ok.

[Q] [Help] [New Device] I need help creating a ROM for my new phone

Hello everyone! I am a little new to this, so please take it easy on me. I have actually never created my own Android ROM via the AOSP, but I have opened up Zip files for ROMs other developers have created and have been able to do basics.
I recently bought this device: MPie G7 (gearbest . com/cell-phones/pp_76182.html)
As you can all tell, it is not exactly a very popular phone. So, finding source code for this phone's ROM is basically, impossible. I have also been unable to find the manufactures website address either (anyone have any ideas?).
Anyway, here are my very noob questions. I am obviously planning on hitting base with the AOSP code, but with Lollipop. This poses a new problem to me, because I cannot find the source code, how am I supposed ot create a kernel specific ROM? This thing runs on a MTK, most precisely: MTK6582. It came with Android 4.4.2 (KitKat).
I am also worried about one small other thing, which is the gestures. If my phone is on standby, screen is off, I can do gestures on the off screen to do certain things. Similar to the OnePlus One. But, I am worried I will not be able to do that if I build my own ROM from source.
Anyone have suggestions? Or can possibly help? Thank you very much. All your help is appreciated!
By
omarquazi said:
Hello everyone! I am a little new to this, so please take it easy on me. I have actually never created my own Android ROM via the AOSP, but I have opened up Zip files for ROMs other developers have created and have been able to do basics.
I recently bought this device: MPie G7 (gearbest . com/cell-phones/pp_76182.html)
As you can all tell, it is not exactly a very popular phone. So, finding source code for this phone's ROM is basically, impossible. I have also been unable to find the manufactures website address either (anyone have any ideas?).
Anyway, here are my very noob questions. I am obviously planning on hitting base with the AOSP code, but with Lollipop. This poses a new problem to me, because I cannot find the source code, how am I supposed ot create a kernel specific ROM? This thing runs on a MTK, most precisely: MTK6582. It came with Android 4.4.2 (KitKat).
I am also worried about one small other thing, which is the gestures. If my phone is on standby, screen is off, I can do gestures on the off screen to do certain things. Similar to the OnePlus One. But, I am worried I will not be able to do that if I build my own ROM from source.
Anyone have suggestions? Or can possibly help? Thank you very much. All your help is appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you list down some of the specifications of your phone and compare them with other mediatek devices!!!
That way if u have the stock ROM of the phone then u can port ROMs from another mediatek device like xolo q700i which has a dedicated thread!!! xolo q700i has many different number of ROMs !!! That way by zip based theming and porting you might be successful in at least creating a ROM for yourself which u can use as a base for different roms!!!
The way I see it if you don't have source or downloadable ROM from your OEM, you have two options:
- like @thecoolster said you could try flashing ROMs from similar devices, and hope you don't end up stuck with a soft brick.
- or, likely your device can be easily rooted (in the settings perhaps?) if it isn't already. Then you can make nandroid to give yourself a stock ROM to cook.
Actually porting your ROM from a developer device tree and AOSP or CM is hard if you are only a hobbyist cook.
Even with a cooked ROM, you'd need a recovery that lets you flash it or you'd have to use SP flashtool and make your own config files for the flash.

Learning to modify ROM/Kernel from Samsung Galaxy Tab Active SM-T365

Hey, i got a little project right here. It's important to say that i have knowledge in this kind of stuff but i never messed around with it except from installing roms on my phone.
I have to modify my self a ROM and kernel from android stock ROM (lets say Lollipop 5.1.1).
I need to do stuff like disabling the SD/Bluetooth /WI-FI in the kernel and comping a new ROM. Can someone here send me to the right places to learn how can i achieve this?
Thanks in advance.

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