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[Q] ROM Development Help

To answer the question that everyone is thinking as they click on this thread... Yes, I am a noob.
Anyway, I downloaded the Android Kitchen and installed it on a Linux Ubuntu Virtual Machine on my Macbook using VMWare Fusion and i watched a video from theunlockr, but all it really let me do was add in apps, change the rom name and give it a few features but no visual customizations... If i posted a link of the "My ROM" no one would be able to tell a difference in the rom i planned on starting from.
Let me know if there is a different way to create that is actually making ROMs or customizing the ROM in it's entirety instead of small unnoticeable features, let me know if I'm just doing something wrong in my Android Kitchen and let me know if theres an easy way to develop ROMs on Mac without Virtual Machines. (The last one isn't a big worry because linux is very lightweight and runs fine on my computer but please help me on the other two questions)
Thanks in advance,
AdamFerg

Hello Gentlemen - Building a ROM? where to start..

Now I'm completely sure that this thread isn't quite the sort of thing that's intended for this Development forum but in this case I'd like you to make an exception as it's intention is for future development and I'm seeking the input from the current great bunch of developers that we have.
I wouldn't mind having an attempt at putting together my own ROM or at least hacking an existing close to stock ROM and making it my own, I have no plans to release my creation to the mass market (if I ever get that far) but, just want to go through the process in order to give me a better understanding of how it all hangs together so that I can put more into the community and assist more in this section and not just the general one with basic problems.
Any pointers that anyione can give will be gratefully appreciated.
I'm not seeking to build a thin Senseless ROM as there are are already some fine examples of these already (MIUI and CM etc), as I'm new to Android and have come here from Windows Mobile so I've already made HTC my choice mainly as I like Sense its functionality, integration, even though I do believe it could be slimmed downed by a decent degree and loose many unnecessary components and elements from the start. I'd also like to only build a WWE ROM as it would be intended for just my use.
As you may know already or can see from signature (or my many previous posts) my current favorite custom ROM is LBC so I'd like to have a go at creating my own version of something similar, I'll probably only end up using LBC still as my daily ROM as I've loved it since I first moved to it and have no intention of going elsewhere.
I have JDK and ADK installed on both my PC's, I've been a programmer although quite some years ago, but, still have a reasonable amount of IT knowledge and still work in a IT related job. So configuration, UNIX scripting etc isn't a problem although Java programming may well be!
Just looking for some basic pointers even if they are to websites or resource threads here in XDA for further reading. Many thanks for all the pointers offered and any time spent helping me, I'm also sure that anything you guys put together will then prove useful for others if they are in my position.
I've also very recently just done my back in and am suffering from awful sciatica, so can see myself spending some time off work, bizarrely sitting at the computer on certain chairs for medium lengths of times, is one of the few things that I can do without experiencing much pain, so I'm trying to keep my self busy, amused and avoid (further) insanity so this seemed like the best option!
Thanks in advance (again) I appreciate that the people in this forum are exceptionally busy, what with their own life's, their families, their jobs not to mention their relentless dedication to the cause that is Desire S ROM porting and development!

You need first to set up a Linux environment.
1. For personal use, and only for modding, I recommend you installing Cygwin if you are a Windows user.
2. Download Dsixda Kitchen and follow the steps from there.
3. Get a copy of your favourite ROM, or a base of your ROM in a .zip format.
4. Modify it, tweak it, zip it again and enjoy !
If you have any more questions, I am here to answer them.

badeaioan said:
You need first to set up a Linux environment.
1. For personal use, and only for modding, I recommend you installing Cygwin if you are a Windows user.
2. Download Dsixda Kitchen and follow the steps from there.
3. Get a copy of your favourite ROM, or a base of your ROM in a .zip format.
4. Modify it, tweak it, zip it again and enjoy !
If you have any more questions, I am here to answer them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Genuine Question: (Not one of those how fast is your PC ones?....But)
At home I have a very new i7 laptop running windows 7 - 64 and a just under ten year old dual Xeon based workstation still running XP both with 8Gb. which of the two would be the best base O/S machine for creating the linux environment on? I imagine that the new laptop will have much fast CPUs but the workstation has many more faster SCSI disks. Although both have NAS available storage.

It doesn't matter. It's your choice. For example I have only Win7 32-bit both on PC and Notebook. I also have native Ubuntu on Notebook as a dual boot, but I use it only on modifying apps.

I never used the kitchen to make own rom, but its the fast way
and you can run linux on a virtual machine if you want

superkid said:
I never used the kitchen to make own rom, but its the fast way
and you can run linux on a virtual machine if you want
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd seriously appreciate a LINK to a linux disto VM that I could download and get started with. As I'm currently starting with an empty page!?
What O/S or linux flavour/distro do the other chiefs use (a URL or link would be magic)?
LBC?
MaryLandCookie
proxuser?
superkid?
NeoLojik?
(dont feel bad if I missed you out - we've finally too many Cooks to remember!)
etc
As always any assistance much appreciated.
and regarding the Development INDEX thread -I've heard back from the MOD but am still awaiting him to action the change of owner for the thread. SO post any needed updates or ideas into the thread and I'll action them as soon as I can!

Ben, start with this, you won't need anything else for personal use: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=633246
You will find out here how to set up Cygwin and everything else you need.

Virtual machine here
Linux distro
Use with dsixda's kitchen, you can't go wrong. Although I prefer dual boot.

lol i use debian, but i dont have a vm

superkid said:
lol i use debian, but i dont have a vm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use vm myself, but for those not wanting to make big system changes a vm is a good way to go. Never did like cygwin either, but its all about personal preferences I guess
Sent from my HTC Desire S

ben_pyett said:
Now I'm completely sure that this thread isn't quite the sort of thing that's intended for this Development forum but in this case I'd like you to make an exception as it's intention is for future development and I'm seeking the input from the current great bunch of developers that we have.
I wouldn't mind having an attempt at putting together my own ROM or at least hacking an existing close to stock ROM and making it my own, I have no plans to release my creation to the mass market (if I ever get that far) but, just want to go through the process in order to give me a better understanding of how it all hangs together so that I can put more into the community and assist more in this section and not just the general one with basic problems.
Any pointers that anyione can give will be gratefully appreciated.
I'm not seeking to build a thin Senseless ROM as there are are already some fine examples of these already (MIUI and CM etc), as I'm new to Android and have come here from Windows Mobile so I've already made HTC my choice mainly as I like Sense its functionality, integration, even though I do believe it could be slimmed downed by a decent degree and loose many unnecessary components and elements from the start. I'd also like to only build a WWE ROM as it would be intended for just my use.
As you may know already or can see from signature (or my many previous posts) my current favorite custom ROM is LBC so I'd like to have a go at creating my own version of something similar, I'll probably only end up using LBC still as my daily ROM as I've loved it since I first moved to it and have no intention of going elsewhere.
I have JDK and ADK installed on both my PC's, I've been a programmer although quite some years ago, but, still have a reasonable amount of IT knowledge and still work in a IT related job. So configuration, UNIX scripting etc isn't a problem although Java programming may well be!
Just looking for some basic pointers even if they are to websites or resource threads here in XDA for further reading. Many thanks for all the pointers offered and any time spent helping me, I'm also sure that anything you guys put together will then prove useful for others if they are in my position.
I've also very recently just done my back in and am suffering from awful sciatica, so can see myself spending some time off work, bizarrely sitting at the computer on certain chairs for medium lengths of times, is one of the few things that I can do without experiencing much pain, so I'm trying to keep my self busy, amused and avoid (further) insanity so this seemed like the best option!
Thanks in advance (again) I appreciate that the people in this forum are exceptionally busy, what with their own life's, their families, their jobs not to mention their relentless dedication to the cause that is Desire S ROM porting and development!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well in my opinion you are alone here because i dont know what the level here it is that anyone helps someone who dares to port a rom. Like i think i am from a specific country or dont know what only few are here who helps me in porting a rom otherwise all have a very good excuse that he is not ready to help anyone. I would like to mention the names who help me in porting the rom and they are mike1986 and one of his team members otherwise majority are here in a race to become number 1 in a specific forum etc. So brother try to see the above mentioned tutorial of how to port a sense rom and try yourself otherwise i had a bitter experience.

This is an excellent place to start, some excellent support from dsixda, dastin1015 among others.
Basically with their help I built my first AOSP ROM for the DS and further.
Well worth a look.
Peace

Just one thing, AOSP means compiled from cm or Google source. Actually it's not possible to compile from Google sources only from CM.

trismegistos said:
Just one thing, AOSP means compiled from cm or Google source. Actually it's not possible to compile from Google sources only from CM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android Open Source Project to me is google, without sense or any other "knobs". You can compile a pure rom from these sources, I produced one with help from members on other forums.
Getting it to work fully is another matter, lol.
It's definitely an easier route - but none less valid - to take a stock rom & tweak it with dsixda's excellent kitchen.
Sent from my HTC Desire S

Is there an easy way to change things like default wallpaper, desktop icons, widgets layout and so?
I've been reading and using kitchens but can't find the answer

fosco_ said:
Is there an easy way to change things like default wallpaper, desktop icons, widgets layout and so?
I've been reading and using kitchens but can't find the answer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try uot kitchen
http://uot.dakra.lt/
its quite easy to use
you can read this guide to get started

MIUI Rom and Newbie Development Questions

Hi Guys,
I am still a very new Android lover (8 months to be exact) and have already rooted my Sensation and looking at other avenues of getting things more exciting.
My first question is this: I recently downloaded the MIUI ROM, namely this version: JBMIUIv4.1 #2.8.17. Here on XDA there is a download for an updated version namely JBMIUIv4.1 #2.8.22, however I cannot access mediafire for some reason and really would love this new ROM. Is there an alternate download link available for this updated version available please?
[HR/]
Ok, now this is something that has been been asked many times BUTas a Windows Mobile developer, it creates an issue because my goal is to get into Android development. However, I do not want to develop the Android Apps (pretty much the same thing I do already but on Windows). What I want to do is to take a ROM, customise it from the bottom up for any specific device for example - HTC Sensation, compile it and deploy this.
Now I have already dabbled a little with the kitchen related stuff and never really got that working. What I am in search of is an accurate, step by step guide for developing, building and deploying various ROM's for the masses BUT on the Windows platform.
I already have Eclipse, cygwin, CRCStudio and and and but cannot get what I am looking for; and I have been searching for some time now and nothing really pops out and says ok, here we go use this to customise you ROM from scratch and by this I mean, the ROM, adding things like Beats Audio, Changing the look and feel of Android itself (like the Sense and MIUI), how to kitchen it properly and all of this as a start for HTC, Samsung, etc.
I want to add some value and have some really cool ideas and opportunities, especially here in South Africa where I am from the only way this will happen is if I get YOUR help.
Can anyone work with me on this or direct me so that I can get things started, PLEASE!!!!

Request for guidance on SGP5 development journey

Hello! I'm a semi-competent programmer (been doing it for fun and profit for the last few years) and I do almost everything in Linux (and in Python/Java).
When I started working with Linux I wanted to learn everything about it, but I was an idiot when I started (probably still am) and didn't understand much of what I was reading so I focused on my programming skills instead of the OS itself.
When I first got an android device (xmas present from my girlfriend about a year ago), I looked at her like she was nuts, "WTH would I want one of them for? Thanks, though." Soon after, I loved the Samsung Galaxy Player 5 (YP-G70 Gingerbread 2.3.5 API level 10) she got me, and started learning how to write useful programs on it, and also stuck several thousand PDF copies of books on it so I could always learn wherever I went.
I had a dream, though, to totally customize it. Every sound, button, box, and bar and especially the boot/shutdown animations, made by me.
In doing so, I hope to learn a ton about embedded Linux and android.
So I started reading through everything I could find about development for Android (especially all the google docs) and my device in particular.
I've confirmed with myself that a so-called "hard-brick" is all but certain, and I will simply buy a new device or take the time to learn how to reflash through a JTAG interface, or both. (Actually, the JTAG would be my preferred option. I've done SOME work with JTAGs before, but didn't understand what I was doing at the time. Thank God for written language, the internet and smarter people than myself!)
I have some questions before I go blowing stuff up, though...
I want to compile Android from source (after making some adjustments, of course!) and flash it to my device. Per the google docs, fastboot makes that pretty easy to do, but per the dozen or so threads on XDA that I've read about fastboot on a SGP5, fastboot isn't available and I'll need to use someone elses stuff to make it work (eg, the great works of Cyanogen).
My question is:
Is it possible to put vanilla AOSP on an SGP5? Is it "possible" like it's "possible" to go to the moon (eg, I'll be reverse engineering the GPU/WIFI/etc hardware and writing drivers for them from scratch?)
Obviously Cyanogen and others have figured it out, and that probably means I could start with his work, but there's a ton of stuff on his github account and none of it speaks about my device specifically.
tl;dr
Basically, if I want to build my own super-minimal Android 2.3.5 distro that will run on a SGP5, whose branch of AOSP am I looking for?
Also, if I did manage to figure out the JTAG interface, I could, say, flash the engineering bootloader to the device and use fastboot, right? Is there another way to achieve this/remove all traces of Samsung?
Thanks!

[Completed] Need a lot of help with porting GB

ok, first, I'm disabled, in a chair, on the dole, and DIRT poor. This is pertinent because it means I can't afford a better device, I have to work within my means. Suggestions to upgrade my device will be ignored. Second, I use Windows, mostly. I CAN use Linux a BIT, but don't really want to, as it's not very intuitive or user-friendly, and my current PC hardware configuration has a LOT of difficulty running even the newest Linux distros. I consider myself pretty computer-savvy, been a freelance PC tech for 20 years now, so I've got some fairly advanced skills and knowledge. I think. I'll also say that my phone is rooted, and has CWM recovery installed.
What I need help with is porting my current rom, to remove ALL of the PHONE/SMS features, and ALL of the wifi power-saving features built into Android. Basically, I want it to function as a non-3g tablet, but with MAX WIFI. GPS would be nice, I use Maps and Navigation a lot, but is not REALLY necessary, as long as I can use a wifi location, Maps should work fine. Since my device is plugged in most of the time, I don't need power-saving features, and I'm pretty sure that THEY are why my device is constantly "disabling" my wifi network (wifi shows as available, 2 bars (-60 or -70 dBm, never seen more than -76) BUT labelled "Disabled, secured with wpa/wpa2 psk. KNOWN issue with GB, I'm pretty sure.) If I click connect, it works FINE. while I'm using it. but after about 10 mins, it's disabled again. Googling this problem has led me to the belief that it is the unwanted power-saving features that are doing this. I should say that I have a KILLER battery my brother gave me, at present I can go 3 days without a charge, and that's with music playing 24/7 over a bluetooth connection, max brightness, AND using wifi/tethering as much as I can. So battery life is not a problem.
I do NOT have access to the SOURCES for my rom. I emailed Huawei and asked for them, and was given a link to the stock firmware, which is in some kinda strange format (it's an .app file, and I can't open/edit it, merely install it. If I could unpackage it, I MIGHT be able to use IT as a source, but I doubt it.)
I can do the work, it's surprisingly easy. I am currently running a kernel that I compiled, but this is beyond me. I have a Linux partition runnin 14.04 LTS. What I need from you:
what programs to use? where to get them? Instructions on HOW to USE them written for somebody who knows JACK about Linux. I ca ./run_a_Program, and have SOME knowledge about repos/sources and compiling/cross-compiling.
and the BIG part is: WTF do I remove/change to accomplish this? PLEASE, if you are replying, remember that I'm an idiot about this stuff, so K.I.S.S.
I have read ALL of the "noob-friendly" guides available here, and they all have one fatal flaw for me: they tell you HOW to do stuff, but not WHAT to do. They setup a build environment, and say have fun. WTF? IDK what im doing, here. What does Demilitarized_zone_free_space=2048 mean? what does changing it affect? how do I change anything, given that IDK What any of this MEANS? Think of it like this: I grew up racing hotrods, know EVERYTHING about them. Now I'm trying to work on an electric-only car. A LOT of my knowledge is useless, but I HAVE already managed to mod a buncha stuff, so I have SOME learning.
I don't REALLY wanna spend YEARS learning Linux, just to tweak my phone. I know I'm gonna have to USE it to do what I want, that's fine. where to start?
And if there is some SIMPLER WAY to do this, I'd LOVE to hear it. I ran across an apk one time here on XDA, that solved the wifi issue, but I cannot find it now.

Hi!
I can understand your frustration. Have you tried asking in the guide threads that you've referred to? Seems the best place to ask questions to me.
Have you seen this guide?
> Android Development and Hacking > Android General > [GUIDE] How to port Stock/GB/CM7/CM9/ICS/CM10/JB Based ROMs [Update: Sept.25.2012
It's an old thread, but still some recent activity in it. Or ask in any of the other threads you spoke about reading.
You could ask for help here as well,
> Android Development and Hacking > Miscellaneous Android Development
Hopefully you can find help in one of these places!
Good luck!