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Android market reverse engineering.

I am trying to reverse engineer the android market back to java code.
The new one.
So far I found all the helper library it uses and only have the vending packages left.
However, there are tons of vending files to reverse.
So anyone want to help me reverse engineer the files back to java code?

may i ask why you would like to do such a thing?
Sadly i cant help you with it though
Good luck with it

so what do we need to to exactly to help you?

well, there are tons of source files. it would be great if we reverse different parts.
so it can be done quicker.

joshman99 said:
may i ask why you would like to do such a thing?
Sadly i cant help you with it though
Good luck with it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am doing this because that way we can see exactly how google coded the market. People can prob use some of google's unique layout code for their apps.

@TheBuzzer
This may be useful for you: http://code.google.com/p/android-market-api/

that is to parse an app page.
That can't dl apps and stuff.

TheBuzzer said:
I am trying to reverse engineer the android market back to java code.
The new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you successful in your effort? I also want to decompile the latest Android Market and strip out any "remote control" code. I am just not comfortable that Google can install(!!!) or remove any application on the next market update check cycle without any authorization from a user's part. This has already happened in the past!

try dex2jar
and then JD-GUI
enjoy

[Q] Is it bad to post an apk?

If I've already uploaded an app to the Market, is it alright to post the apk here and not have to worry about people stealing it or ripping the code and making their own version of it?

Even your market version can be ripped and stolen. Its best to upload to mrket first. That way u have the name preserved.
Sent from my Epix 4G using XDA

rpimps said:
If I've already uploaded an app to the Market, is it alright to post the apk here and not have to worry about people stealing it or ripping the code and making their own version of it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can happen. I don't know of any ways to prevent it, but here's a thread for reference with some tips:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=900923

^ Yeah I saw the Davinci thread, that's what made me worried about posting it. I already published it and it's already on Androlib etc so they can't steal the package name, but I spent a lot of time on the code and don't want someone to be able to extract it and create a ripoff version of my game.
If someone downloads it from the Market, can they extract the code and edit it to create their own version of the app, or is it locked somehow?

bumpppppppp

If you post it on the market, here, or anywhere else your code is out in the open. But android is supposed to be open source anyway.

BenKranged said:
If you post it on the market, here, or anywhere else your code is out in the open. But android is supposed to be open source anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's android. Not his app.

Any android APK can decompiled easyly smali or Java code but so is any application on internet, there's a way you can make it hard to decompile, like use ".so" library file for all the code u wanna hide.
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA Premium App

Hmm, so if I've already posted it in the Market, would posting the apk here basically be the same thing, and I wouldn't be hurting myself? I just want to make sure I'm not making it any easier for thieves/scammers.

In all honesty you're not gonna make it easier or harder for theives. If they want it they will do what they can to get it. Unfortunately most creations have been thought of before and made before. Even if things are slightly changed.
You got your app out there man. Just see how well it does and maybe implement the hints given

Yip, if people want to get to your code, they will, its pretty easy to nab the apk from a device once installed.

System/App Folder

Hello All,
I have been working on customizing my Sprint S3 for a while, this forum as usual has been so immensely helpful.
I have modified several key things, i prefer to not use the kitchen, not thats it not useful but the main tools just work for me( apktool, smali.jar, baksmali.jar)
I have been poking and prodding every file in the stock S3 rom that I got from XDA, it is DeOdexed which frankly is so much easier to work with.
Without me ranting and boring all of you to death, I want to know if anyone has a list of apps that I can add to the system/app folder and work right out of the rom when I start it. Just flash rom and they work.
Examples:
I know for a fact the following work by simply dropping them into the system/app folder
esexplorer
Titanium Backup
Safe wallet
Amazon app store
The issue is not every app I "place" inside this folder will install, in fact they cause crashes if opened in the rom after installation. I read here somewhere that certain apps install libraries and need to be installed manually, but I am sure that something can be done to be mitigated for this issue would allow me to install more apps like AdAway and many more instead of me modifying the hosts file. Is this even possible or would this be a developer issue that is not meant to be solved as I do not understand how some apps work flawlessly and some just fail miserably. I have even heard to install with a flashable zip but come on I mean 4 more clicks to get a rom working the way I want nahhh.

Not Sure
So, got some views, must be a tough one to answer, I figured when an APK is installed, it is similar to when a program is installed and folders are created on its own, I suppose I lack knowledge on how some programs do not require such things and others require manual installation. Anyone have any insight on my logic?

zalooa said:
So, got some views, must be a tough one to answer, I figured when an APK is installed, it is similar to when a program is installed and folders are created on its own, I suppose I lack knowledge on how some programs do not require such things and others require manual installation. Anyone have any insight on my logic?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, ive had the same problem, summarised it as only some apps like facebook, twitter and a few others didnt crash, id blame it on the updated google play services

ricky310711 said:
yeah, ive had the same problem, summarised it as only some apps like facebook, twitter and a few others didnt crash, id blame it on the updated google play services
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't help you sorry about that but i just wanted to give my opinion on this
i wouldn't appreciate it when i buy a computer that it got preinstalled things like itunes because i maybe have a iPod or iPad and especially nto when it's hard to remove
If google killed the drag and drop hey i added an app to the system behavior i would like to say this to them
Thanks you google!
Why add app to a ROM when user can download them from the play store?
And if you want to add them so badly why not add them to /data/app so they are easier to delete for regular users?

owain94 said:
Can't help you sorry about that but i just wanted to give my opinion on this
i wouldn't appreciate it when i buy a computer that it got preinstalled things like itunes because i maybe have a iPod or iPad and especially nto when it's hard to remove
If google killed the drag and drop hey i added an app to the system behavior i would like to say this to them
Thanks you google!
Why add app to a ROM when user can download them from the play store?
And if you want to add them so badly why not add them to /data/app so they are easier to delete for regular users?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people roms depend on xposed and some modules though, also dsp manager for enhanced sound capabilities!
Although I know were your coming from!

ricky310711 said:
Some people roms depend on xposed and some modules though, also dsp manager for enhanced sound capabilities!
Although I know were your coming from!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but that's different
Those have a purpose to users who download the rom, whereas bloat that the majority of people don't use does not

CNexus said:
Yeah, but that's different
Those have a purpose to users who download the rom, whereas bloat that the majority of people don't use does not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but thats what hes trying to say, regardless of if it has a purpose these .apk files are crashing..

ricky310711 said:
but thats what hes trying to say, regardless of if it has a purpose these .apk files are crashing..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, sorry I was just replying to your post, not to the OP
I've actually looked into this and it looks like to get stuff to work right when you stick it in /system/app, you need to add lib files into the apk itself and then drop it in /system/app

CNexus said:
Yeah, sorry I was just replying to your post, not to the OP
I've actually looked into this and it looks like to get stuff to work right when you stick it in /system/app, you need to add lib files into the apk itself and then drop it in /system/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i know
---------- Post added at 01:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:06 AM ----------
CNexus said:
Yeah, sorry I was just replying to your post, not to the OP
I've actually looked into this and it looks like to get stuff to work right when you stick it in /system/app, you need to add lib files into the apk itself and then drop it in /system/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
also i found out that most of the time the cause of this is the api level? hmmm, confusing...

ricky310711 said:
Some people roms depend on xposed and some modules though, also dsp manager for enhanced sound capabilities!
Although I know were your coming from!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROMs never depend on xposed
cooked aka winzipped ROMs maybe do but well that's not a proper way to make a ROM
If users want xposed they can just install it no problem
DSP manager easy just drop the sources files in the folder and build easy as that
and if you really want to "winzip" a rom you can just add the libs for DSP Manager to the system/lib folder
if you take a look at the sources https://github.com/CyanogenMod/android_packages_apps_DSPManager
you'll see a folder called cyanogen-dsp if you look in there and open the Android.mk file you can just easily spot the two modief files for DSP manager
https://github.com/CyanogenMod/android_packages_apps_DSPManager/blob/cm-10.2/cyanogen-dsp/Android.mk
one is a conf file and one is a lib
but well just building from source is way better and even easier...

How about you build me a Touchwiz rom from source then.

CNexus said:
How about you build me a Touchwiz rom from source then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Building / developing a ROM != winzipping
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Premium HD app

[Completed] App code from .apk file

Hi there,
It is possible to extract the app code from an .apk file? Nothing illegal, I just want to figure out how some app mechanics works because there is a game that It driving me crazy and on the Internet there isn't very much so I decided to see it by my self.
Thank you for your help.

ammone95 said:
Hi there,
It is possible to extract the app code from an .apk file? Nothing illegal, I just want to figure out how some app mechanics works because there is a game that It driving me crazy and on the Internet there isn't very much so I decided to see it by my self.
Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi and welcome to XDA.
You can use something like apktool to decompile the app, modify it and recompile again.
You can learn a lot from studying the app's code but if you want to do something illegal you won't get much support for that here.

Art Vanderlay said:
Hi and welcome to XDA.
You can use something like apktool to decompile the app, modify it and recompile again.
You can learn a lot from studying the app's code but if you want to do something illegal you won't get much support for that here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot, i'll chekout the apktool! No nothing illegal, just a little bit curious on how some app mechanics work

ammone95 said:
Thanks a lot, i'll chekout the apktool! No nothing illegal, just a little bit curious on how some app mechanics work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries :good:
Thread closed.

Samsung Theme Builder Thingy - [Tool/Source]

Oh hey guys.... I didn't see ya there. Welcome to my Theme Builder Thingy. So you're probably wondering what exactly this is. Well I'm glad you asked. But first I need to give a huge shout out to my good ol' carnt of a bloke pal @daveyannihilation for his ongoing support for making this. He didn't do anything but he was very encouraging in our group chats. so make sure if you see him around you say hello.
So what this is, is source code essentially to be able to construct a Samsung theme in Android studio. I tried the old leaked Samsung Theme tool and albeit does work, it's less than ideal and honestly it's a bit dated. Feel free to still use it because there are some advantages it has. However from what I gathered folks are using other things like apktool to make their themes and in order to do that you'd have to take someone else's base which I personally am not a fan of doing. Not to mention how cumbersome it is decompiling tons of apps, converting stuff to or from .qmg or whatever and then, recompiling and signing with a generic debug key. Too much of a pain.
Now to be clear this tool or thingy.... Yeah let's call it a #Thingy because why not. So this Thingy does not work the same way that the Samsung tool works in that you'll still need to make your own images and xmls. Because well I'm not doing it for you! But this will build your theme properly and securely. Anyone who's using an antivirus app like: lookout or whatever will get annoying notifications saying you're using "riskware" when installing a theme through other methods. That's because it isn't built properly or securely.
This will make your theme using a private signing key and should you decide to you can upload your theme directly too google play and it will pass and be just fine.
But wait.... There's more.... I've done basically all the work for you in regards to how it builds. You can literally drag and drop the contents of your res folder in this, change a few names via batch and build it and then bob's your uncle.
The key to this is to follow the instructions. I've went step by step, button for button on virtually everything you need to do to use this so if you experience an issue then chances are you didn't follow them.
You can ask for some support in here if you're truly stuck on something but you really should try to figure this out. It's really not that difficult to do, although putting this together and getting this to work was an absolute nightmare!
So. below are the instructions which are also built into the source. Please keep in mind that every file included in the source is there for a reason. You do not need to delete anything in there unless it tells you to in the instructions!
Bottom line, this is a very fast and efficient way in which to create a theme without kanging someone else's base and just changing stuff up. Again, we're building from source here so to speak so that's what I consider the right way of doing things.
Now if you don't feel this Thingy is for you that's totally fine. I will not lose sleep should you choose other methods. However there will be some who find this very handy so. I'll leave you with the instructions and then give a few shout outs to a few people who gave me a few suggestions, and let me bounce ideas off them.
@sykopompos @nicholaschum @Venom0642 for unknowingly letting me use his theme for proof of concept purposes! @bigmase23 for being > @freeza + cobs combined .
Instructions:
#Samsung theme Template Builder Thingy by Mark Bencze Theme Template for Samsung 7.0 phones Alt text
First things first. You need to use only .png and .xml format. DO NOT USE .qmg or any other extension.
Step 1: import project into android studio Step 2: allow Gradle to finish doing it's thing. You'll notice a progress bar at the bottom doing stuff. It may take a few minutes depending on your computer. Step 3: on the left side of the page close to the top you'll see a "project" tab written vertically along with the android studio icon below it. Click on that. Then just to the right and above it you will see an "Android" tab with a drop down menu. Click the menu drop down and select "Project". This may trigger gradle to do it's thing again. If it does, let it finish. Step 4: You will see "offical theme tool source" folder. click on it to expand it. This is what we're working with. Do not worry about or touch "External Libraries" Step 5: While you have "offical theme tool source" selected (highlighted) go to the edit tab at the top of the screen. Step 6: Go to find, Replace in path and search for "com.yourname.themename". Replace that with whatever you want to call it. This should be self explanitory on the naming of it. make sure in this pop up menu under scope that you have "whole project" selected and then press find. This will change 675 files give or take. you want to select "yes to all" when asked. Step 7: In the folder _app/src/main you will find you AndroidManifest.xml. Enter the name of your theme there. You do not need to use an underscore _ You can use a space if you wish.
Now this next part is very important. Failure to follow this will cause your theme to fail to work. The manifest I have provided in the _apps folder has about 60 or so asset names. So does the json.file and you'll also notice that you have the same amount of folders in this source. All three of these must match. For example: If you do not wish to use the asset "touchwiz" in your theme, you must delete that reference carefully from the AndroidManifest, json.file as well as remove the folder from the source to the source. The three things need to communicate and jive with each other and if you do not have them all in sync you will get an error during installation of the theme on your device saying in a toast message "Master Package Not Formed Properly". So if you get this, it is your fault not mine! I warned you!
Remember that if your manifest says to build the touchwiz apk and you don't have it or, you've improperly named things within that apk the theme will not build properly. That should make sense right?
Ok great that wasn't hard at all was it?
The next part is for if you want to add additional assets. If you do not with to you can skip to the "Build Part". Now let's say you have additional assets you with to add to this ie: navbar. For one always use lower case letters when adding a new asset apk to this (including the manifest). The same rule applies that we just spoke about. Add the name to your manifest and your json.file first. Then call the folder whatever it's called. ie: "navbar". do not call the folder "com.navbar" or anything like that. So what you need to do is take an existing asset folder and make a copy of the folder. for example settings folder. You'll then change the name of your folder that you made a copy of to "navbar" since that's the example we're using right now. You will notice there is a .iml file as well inside our copy. We need to change the name of that to "navbar.iml" in order to have the asset apk form properly. You can do this either inside android studio by either right clicking on the file and going to "refactor" and then rename. Or you can do this outside of android studio. You do not need to open the .iml file and edit it. You do however need to open the build.gradle file for the app and change the last part of the app name located on line 8. This will still be showing the original app name. We don't want to make a duplicate right? So make sure you adjust that. The build.gradle is really the brains of the operation in this whole program. As you can see they actually control everything and will overwrite your manifests. You do not need to touch the manifest for each asset apk either.
So now you will see a "settings.gradle" file at the bottom (directly below this readme file!!!) open this file. At the top you will see a series of asset folder names that are identical to the names of the folders already provided in here. So if you want to add a new asset you must also reference it here. Follow the structure of how this is already written to add another one in. It's as simple as writing: ie: ":appname", Just remember that at the very end there is no comma!
"Build Part" So you're ready to test your theme and just want to build it. At the top go to the "build" tab and select "build apk". This will build all your asset apks in a min or two depending on the speed of your computer. When it's done you'll see a notification telling you it was successful. You can go see for yourself by going to _app/src/main/assets and you will see your asset apks. Next you need to build the main apk. Go back to the build tab and this time select build signed apk. You will now need to either make a private signing key or use an existing one if you have one. It's not hard to make one so figure that out or google it. the first popup window shows the theme being on the _app folder. that's where it needs to be so do not select anything else or it will not make the apk. So next go through the signing key process. On the last part you will select the version you want to make. Either Release or debug. By default it will be set to Release. Keep it this way and select both check boxes for jar and apk signature under signature versions. Then hit Finish and you're all done! In about 2 seconds your theme will be made and ready to install!
I hope you find this tool useful! It was a huge pain in the ass to make this and a lot of work!
Download Theme Builder Thingy Template

May want to snag this post for future reference

But wait.... there's more...

Holy hell I can't wait to use this. Thank you you're a god

Excellent mate glad you made this tool , As you mentioned using my themes to get stuff going is great, which now this tool is gonna make my life easier in making my Samsung custom themes, Great job ???
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S8+ using XDA Labs

Congrats bro, excellent work as always!!

@markbencze
Great job bud..... finally after alot of hours.... all worthed and could be the new beginning for samsung theming world.

I won't be using this but because of your new tool I'm sure we will see even more custom themes start to pop up and for that I thank you good sir. Awesome work!

tytydraco said:
Holy hell I can't wait to use this. Thank you you're a god
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol My wife says otherwise!!!

#ThemeThingyFTW

Lol you're an idiot Mark. No one who cares about open source should support Samsung smartphones in any way, shape or form. If you wanna do it, then you go for it. But don't bring me into this. I'd sooner buy an iPhone than one of these hunks of junk.

Meke Blackscreen OS theme! Nao!
Good job on this Bencze... I'm glad you stuck with it!

This is an awesome Thingy Mark! Great job and Thanks man

daveyannihilation said:
Lol you're an idiot Mark. No one who cares about open source should support Samsung smartphones in any way, shape or form. If you wanna do it, then you go for it. But don't bring me into this. I'd sooner buy an iPhone than one of these hunks of junk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol you had to know this was coming and know I couldn't resist! #TeamCarntOut

Jayrod76 said:
Meke Blackscreen OS theme! Nao!
Good job on this Bencze... I'm glad you stuck with it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks big guy. Almost gave up a few times

Awesome work bro!

cbucz24 said:
Awesome work bro!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks big guy. Now we just gotta wait for ws to kang it and just change the wallpaper lol!

markbencze said:
Thanks big guy. Now we just gotta wait for ws to kang it and just change the wallpaper lol!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hy man can i ask a favour
can u zip last samsung theme editor you use because on mine i need to download last version if i donìt download i canìt open the app..
i reg and do it all thinks in samsung developer but i'm waiting again more than 3 weeks. can u give to me last theme via pm if you can

alex393 said:
hy man can i ask a favour
can u zip last samsung theme editor you use because on mine i need to download last version if i donìt download i canìt open the app..
i reg and do it all thinks in samsung developer but i'm waiting again more than 3 weeks. can u give to me last theme via pm if you can
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude I don't have a clue what you're saying. Please restate what you're asking me and try to be more coherent and specific on what you're saying. I have no problem offering support but you lost me at hy

I might use this soon. Let me just put this out here, your post, the op, is actually amazing. I love the way your wrote it. You are great.