Integrating Over-the-Air Updates in Custom AOSP Project (AOSP noob) - Android General

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum and have joined as I've started working on a private/commercial version of AOSP. I've worked in mobile apps natively and more recently using React Native for the last 5 years and am enjoying hacking and playing around the source.
The main usage for build of AOSP is for a bespoke vehicle tracking device with a few additional features. So far I've managed to build AOSP, flash onto a device, and most recently set the tracking app as the home app so that it boots on launch.
The question that I can't find a solid answer to online is does anyone the best way of going about modifying AOSP so that we can deploy an OTA zip update and have the OS download and update it?
I'm not sure if this is necessarily the best way/use of time. I'm guessing it might be easier to just update the app itself internally and not develop OTA updates for the OS? I think at this stage I'm just after opinions before I spend too much time getting stuck into it. My only concern would be that we have 100+ devices out there and no ability to update the OS... although if it's a basic build of AOSP that just removes a few pre-installed apps, has a custom bootlogo and replaces the home app, maybe that's not necessary?
Any advice at this early stage would be gratefully received! Additionally, any tips for development or something a noob would benefit from would be great.
Thanks,
Joel

Related

Collabertive Effort Community Update Application

Hi all,
I have a concept for a single update application that would be driven from the AndroidSPIN release database so all developers could use it for ROM, Themes, Applications and anything releases to devices.
If you wouldn't mind taking a couple of minutes to read this post, I would greatly appreciate it.
http://www.androidspin.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=260&t=226
I'd really love to get a group together to collaborate and either help design this and/or write an application and back end to do it.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks
Simon
Sounds like an awesome idea, I'd love to help any way I can, but I dont fit in any of the needed positions for the post. Looking forward to see what develops though
Fantastic idea!
I only ever use XDA so god knows what I'm missing out on elsewhere and to be honest after searching the word android on google and trawling through one crap site after another becomes tiresome so hence the 'XDA only' policy.
Sorry I can't offer any programming skills but you have my support on this project whole heartedly, not that it counts for much I know buh MeH!
Hope you can get this off the ground.
As I mentioned to Simon already, I was thinking about building an update application for my ROM. I love the idea of having an on-phone ROM database, update capability, something that can easily be used by any developer in the community.
Some initial thoughts on functionality:
- Browse ROMs
- Download ROMs to SD Card
- Monitor specific ROMs for updates
- Monitor currently running ROM for updates
I'm willing to lend a hand on the Android side of things, but this will be a large undertaking and we will also need some people to contribute to the UI, server side of things, etc.
I do iPhone UI design for applications now (I don't have an iPhone, but most of my contracts and clients are iPhone based), but let me know and I can whip up anything you guys need UI related.
Send me a PM and I can get the ball rolling on how the functionality can be laid out as well.
Even tho I know I wouldnt be able to help out with this. I know I would love to test this out if you needed it.
Its a great idea!!!
I know a teeny bit of Java, and I'm working on becoming an Android developer, so if anything needs doing on the Android side of things, I'm willing to contribute.
Although I may not know as much as some others, I'm definitely a fast learner. I have a few books on Android development I'm reading through right now.
michinohatoresu said:
I know a teeny bit of Java, and I'm working on becoming an Android developer, so if anything needs doing on the Android side of things, I'm willing to contribute.
Although I may not know as much as some others, I'm definitely a fast learner. I have a few books on Android development I'm reading through right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, we can reuse a lot of code from Cyanogen updater.
akirah said:
Well, we can reuse a lot of code from Cyanogen updater.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, of course.
If anything else needs doing, however, I volunteer what spare time I have.
akirah said:
Well, we can reuse a lot of code from Cyanogen updater.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be easily done, would require quite a lot of laborious work ripping out all the stuff you wouldn't need though.
I would take a look at this but unfortunately I have another Android project on at the moment which is taking all my development spare time.
@SimonNWalker What sort of backend having you got going? REST? SOAP?
Ups wrong theread
not that it matters (since i kept the source 100% open)....
you have my blessing to tear the cmupdater to shreds if it will give us a unified solution to all our ROM cravings
firefart has done a good job of keeping the code pretty clean so there shouldnt be too many issues with grabbing it
and the new code for the screenshots for themes could probably be used to the advantage of this project with ease
I'm not really interested in a rom updater, but a market replacement with an "upgrade all" feature (à la apt-get / yum) drawing from multiple repositories would be most exciting.
The Cyanogen updater could be used, it just needs some modifications. Stuff like sub-sections and update all
Would probably need a new method to keep track of the updates aswell, I don't think json would be sufficient for a lot of applications and updates. Unless somebody could make some kind of script to automate the process when it gets uploaded.
willmav5000 said:
Would probably need a new method to keep track of the updates aswell, I don't think json would be sufficient for a lot of applications and updates. Unless somebody could make some kind of script to automate the process when it gets uploaded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only other method I would consider, besides JSON, is an advanced and well thought out web-based form that the developer is forced to complete upon uploading a ROM. This would place more burden on the server, but should be relatively easy to attach the provided ROM information to the rom database.
Think: Check boxes for firmware compatibilities, check boxes for device compatibilities, version number, change log, etc.
Maybe something a little like this?
Wow this would be/ is gonna be awsome!
I would suggest also that you can backup your sd card settings (and maybe also sms...) to an ftp server (or some other server you can install on your pc) from this app...
like (incremential) backup>partition>wipe>install update>boot>getbackupback
problem is to get the server adress back after wipe. maybe stored in web database and encrypted with phone imei number? or uploaded as google
whatever...
or just not wiping that single adress
just saying ^^
willmav5000 said:
Would probably need a new method to keep track of the updates aswell, I don't think json would be sufficient for a lot of applications and updates. Unless somebody could make some kind of script to automate the process when it gets uploaded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JSON is just a file format. The CM Updater works via a static JSON file that gets updated manually. The way I'd design this (which is what I asked a couple of posts back) is a dynamic web service (probably REST based) which delivered JSON dynamically. Wouldn't be too difficult at all.
As SimonWalker said he's using PHP + MySQL I'm guessing that's already being done.
@garok89: CM Updater is completely open-source therefore blessings are not needed to use the source. Really don't understand all the "credit" crap here on XDA.
senab said:
@garok89: CM Updater is completely open-source therefore blessings are not needed to use the source. Really don't understand all the "credit" crap here on XDA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know it is open and I don't need to give my blessing for people to use the source. I did so because a lot of people don't feel comfortable using other peoples code without permission, regardless of whether or not its 100% open source.
And as for the 'credit crap'... I don't see you asking for your name to be removed from the 'about' section of the app
I am not asking for any credit
Anyway, lets not get off topic...
Guys, before this becomes Android Open Alliance, the sequel (you all remember how that went), I think we better set up a way to work together first and then toss in the speculative stuff later.
How about starting simple; set up a wave?

[REQUEST] XDA Market App - 9 April 2010

Has anyone thought of making an XDA Market App that the ROM developers could put their ROMS in, ROM Updates in, Custom Applications, Themes, etc? I would think it could be hugely popular, and a good way to distribute ROMs/Apps which are specific to our forums.
Broken into categories, searchable, very similar to how Verizon Market works (by piggy backing on the Market app) or even as a completely separate app? Would 'bake' into ROMs nicely.
Would be a nice way for devs to get feedback on their apps, and could even integrate bug reports (complete with simple logcat dumps!)
Just a thought. I have zero Java experience so I can't do it myself.
I've always wanted the same thing. It's overdue if you ask me.
+10
Would be an awesome app.
It could in theory be setup with aptoide if it allows you to control what it looks for and downloads (meaning something other than .apks). I'm not sure if it does though.
Edit: Well it's open source, both the app and the server. So in theory it could be made to do anything. ha.
This topic would probably be better suited for the Android Software Development threads. I know a lot more Android users besides us HTC Hero users could benefit from this. Definitely a great idea though.
flipzmode said:
It could in theory be setup with aptoide if it allows you to control what it looks for and downloads (meaning something other than .apks). I'm not sure if it does though.
Edit: Well it's open source, both the app and the server. So in theory it could be made to do anything. ha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like it could be a good starting point. Would have a lot of the 'framework' already setup and could therefore be modified to fit specific needs of the ROM devs. (logcat dump, bug reports, etc)
This wouldn't even make sense to restrict to CDMA Hero either; GSM would be right at home as well, especially for non-ROM devs who are making apps/widgets/themes/etc.

[APP][L+] LBudget

Hello everybody,
like I guess quite a few people here, I develop for Android in my free time, and this is my second app. It's a finance tracker, hopefully an evolution to the well-known MoneyWise. I decided that I wanted a new one since, although MoneyWise is definitively useful, it's ugly and its usability is a little bit too cumbersome.
So, I made LBudget with the Material Design principles in my head as much as I could and, if any of you uses the Google+ app, you'll hopefully find the navigation relatively familiar.
The app is still in Beta phase (using the Google Play platform) and, because of the current condition of Android L, it will remain as such at least until a stable release is commercially released. Nevertheless, I would like to use the time until then for the app to be tested and improved. If you would like to contribute by installing it, you'll first need to follow the annoying Google Play standard procedure:
Join the testing community at https://plus.google.com/communities/117254163315407088886
Register as a test at https://play.google.com/apps/testing/org.jorge.lbudget (use the same account with which you joined the testing community).
Download the app in the link that the aforementioned page provides once you become a tester.
For reporting bugs, requesting features, or such, I want to really encourage you to utilize the project GitHub issue tracker, but if you don't know how to use it just leave a comment and I will "port" it to GitHub.
Also, if you're interested in contributing but not using Android L yet or simply don't want to install the app, you can contribute to the translation project at https://crowdin.com/project/lbudget
Went to check this out, but it says I need a newer SDK version. I'm not on L, anyway to make it compatible with 4.4.4?
Sc4ryB3ar said:
Went to check this out, but it says I need a newer SDK version. I'm not on L, anyway to make it compatible with 4.4.4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the app is compatible with L+, so understandably if you try to install in 4.4.4 you cannot. Probably it is feasible to adapt the app to 4.0+, but my intention was knowledgeably using only the new features of L to become familiar with it.

[Completed] play store estimate time remaining in download app in android 4.2.1

hey guys can someone tell me is there any way to add play store time remaining feature to android 4.2.1 ?
And i request developers to please work on this feature it is very helpful feature....
XDA Visitor said:
hey guys can someone tell me is there any way to add play store time remaining feature to android 4.2.1 ?
And i request developers to please work on this feature it is very helpful feature....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, and welcome to XDA!
I find those things inaccurate, as the notification area estimate (including percent complete) rarely matches (or comes close to) the Play Store app estimate. That also begs the question on responsibility...are you talking having time remaining within the app, or in the notification area?
Right now for either, it's a fight against time. With the former, you are dealing with an older version of Google Play and Google Play Services, the responsibility of Google and that version (guessing 6.x where current is 8.x) is critical security updates only (if any at all) - no feature requests allowed. The latter scenario, probably relies on the former for information, but if not, it would be the responsibility of your ROM developer (e.g. Samsung Touchwiz 4.2/CM10.1/et cetera). They are in the situation of getting only critical security updates (if any at all) as well. After all, Android 4.2.1 enters it's fourth year of existence in November, and the attitude of Google is once a new codename has been officially released, all attention goes towards the new version (so the older stuff quickly becomes "abandonware").
CyanogenMod has been good on keeping older Android versions alive. Not so much for themselves, but for the older ROM's that borrow their code. The recent StageFright problem (dubbed SF1.0 as there is now a new batch of vulnerabilities) CM went back as far as 10.1/4.2.2 to patch the problems. With latest SF2.0 and the recent release of Marshmallow/6.0 I don't know if CyanogenMod will go that far back for their fixes this time (I am watching, as I have some Android 4.4.4 stuff to patch and plan to base off of CM11).
That was the long. The short being, since 4.2.1 is no longer a priority, I don't see it happening. Sorry.

turning an older android device into a browser only device

hello,i come looking to inquire about how dificult in would be to create a rom, that would boot directly to a browser (prefferably iceweisel) to run a series of html5 based apps my developement team is working on. security would be a massive factor. any developers that might have input please contact me and i can better fill you in on whats happening.
side note
the team i mentioned in the original post is very good with java script and the like but actual mobile devices are out of their line of expertise. thank you in advance for any help.
plainstribune.com said:
hello,i come looking to inquire about how dificult in would be to create a rom, that would boot directly to a browser (prefferably iceweisel) to run a series of html5 based apps my developement team is working on. security would be a massive factor. any developers that might have input please contact me and i can better fill you in on whats happening.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you should think of creating a Launcher app especially if you want your soft be able to launch on a different devices.

Categories

Resources