Database Info

[Q] Questions About Modifying Android

Hi, I know there are probably many topics with people talking about this.. But, I have some very specific things I wanna ask.
So, What do I want to know how to do...
I would like to know how to edit and modify the android software. I want to make my own custom roms, kernels, all of that.
BTW: I have a Samsung Galaxy SII T-Mobile SGH-T989 rooted w/ (for now) Juggernaut v4.1 on it..
Couple ?'s
What can I use to make my own themes and other visual items? I want to modify like say, my clock widget so that the background is red... How can I do things like that?
What do I need to do serious modification to it, such as changing up the settings menu to include new things? I remember a program called ADB was used but idk if its still used.
No, with all this said, obviously there must be some coding knowledge needed, so, what coding and other software knowledge would I need to know in order to complete things like this successfully?
Thank you very much for all your help guys.

About modifying your clock widget background, you cannot do it unless the source code of your widget app is available for download and the license grants to you permission to modify it. You can contact the developer and request this feature.
Modify your system is more complicated, even more if you are not a developer. The Android system and the majority of apps are written in Java language.
All the softwares and knowledge you need you can find on developer dot android dot com (sorry I can't post links yet). Spend some time reading the informations about the platform and the developers guide.
If you don't know Java or isn't familiar with the Eclipse IDE I suggest you to start from these before trying to develop for Android. The SDK (software development kit), wich includes the adb that you mentioned, is available as a plugin for Eclipse which supports your development.

[Q] Developing: Windows, Mac, Linux, & Other Questions

Hello all! I'm new to this wonderful forum and community so please spare me if I've done, or said anything stupid. :crying:
I am interesting in developing applications for Android. I do understand that developing apps for any device/software is a challenging task. Especially with Android (I think) since it's such a diverse amount of devices, screen resolutions, capabilities, etc. What I'm hoping to do is to build a somewhat simple app, targeted at business owners, or folks who sell merchandise, and so on. It's supposed to have tabs set up for certain folks/companies. I'll spare the details about the app I want to make. Bottom line is, I want to start off with that 'simple' app and move on to a game for my second app. I know that I won't be a huge hit or any of the sort. But before I begin to develop, I have some questions that I hope can be answered here.
Here are my questions, please be patient with me, and to all mods/admins, I'm sorry if I've violated any rules by posting this up. I couldn't find any decent answers that'll help me out.
1. What Operating System is considered to be "better" for developing Android apps, and why?
2. How do I go on testing my app, do I use my own phone, or are there any great emulators out there that can emulate/simulate a real phone very well?
3. Where would you recommend me, a complete noob, on developing? I know I can look this up on my own, so I don't mind if this question isn't answered. I just want to find some guides that actually explain why things were done, what it's supposed to teach and so on.
4. This question is the one that worries me the most, and I understand it might start some debate () so please, be respectful. :laugh: I'm not a legal US resident, citizen, or any of the sort. I'm currently seeing a lawyer to apply for Deferred Action. But I'm worried that it might be illegal for me to publish apps on the Google Play store. /: Does anybody know if it's it legal for a 16 year old, illegal immigrant (USA) to publish apps on the app store? ​

Sorry guys, I really want to know. >.< So... BUMP ​

[Q] Can somebody help me out please

dear fellow XDA developers
i have a serious question, and i hope that there is somebody who can tell me what to do if my Samsung S4 zoom is hacked? it runs on a android system ( OS / Upgrade Android JB MR1 (v4.2) ) And is there a way to find out who did this, i mean is there something that i can use to identify the hacker without a pad that the hacker wont see that i have pin him down so that i can contact the polici and inform the police about the hacker??? maybe you find this questions silly questions but a need to know what to do!! Because i can not sleep for three days now, and i think you also need to know that i have absolut no idea about phone, smartphone, computers and so on and on and on how these divices works and run a dont install programs and i feel very sorry to bother you with my questions, but i hope that there is somebody out there how can give me the answore i need. manny manny manny thanks folks! Yours truely DelinQuent H

DelinQuent H said:
dear fellow XDA developers
i have a serious question, and i hope that there is somebody who can tell me what to do if my Samsung S4 zoom is hacked? it runs on a android system ( OS / Upgrade Android JB MR1 (v4.2) ) And is there a way to find out who did this, i mean is there something that i can use to identify the hacker without a pad that the hacker wont see that i have pin him down so that i can contact the polici and inform the police about the hacker??? maybe you find this questions silly questions but a need to know what to do!! Because i can not sleep for three days now, and i think you also need to know that i have absolut no idea about phone, smartphone, computers and so on and on and on how these divices works and run a dont install programs and i feel very sorry to bother you with my questions, but i hope that there is somebody out there how can give me the answore i need. manny manny manny thanks folks! Yours truely DelinQuent H
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep your room padlocked, your screen locked, stay away from crappy apps/pirated apps, and make sure you didn't do anything stupid with security. Reflash and wipe all data, unless you have been logging things right along. Seriously, I doubt it was an external hacker unless you were not following 1 of the rules above and invited him in. The basic functions of Android run on the Linux kernel with limited services listening-and none behind CGNAT on your cell carrier and NAT on most routers(as Android only connects via wireless). The UI is basically a Java interpreter known as the Dalvik VM, with each app having isolated permissions, unless you carelessly grant one of the above things root access, which should be controlled by a superuser app. I think your hack was internal, perpetrated by something you let on your phone or near your phone. As far as finding him, maybe IP logs if you have any, otherwise, fully wipe, follow the above rules, and move on. Sorry I don't have better news but maybe this is good news for you that you likely weren't hacked by a mystery bogeyman.

[Q] Total NOOB needs some help :)

Hi all,
My name is Fabian, and I have a strong background in C. (Done a CS course in C).
I want to do an Android app for my final project(nothing too fancy or complicated but I have to at least have some interface ) and I'm a little stuck with how to proceed from here.
I watched the Java essential course on Lynda and I did understand a little the difference between C in Java, however I don't know how to proceed from here to actual Android development.
If anyone can recommend me finding a crash course, a book or any other resource that could get me up and running as soon as possible, I would really appreciate it.
I don't mind spending money on it.
Thanks in advance.
Fabian

fabiansc said:
Hi all,
My name is Fabian, and I have a strong background in C. (Done a CS course in C).
I want to do an Android app for my final project(nothing too fancy or complicated but I have to at least have some interface ) and I'm a little stuck with how to proceed from here.
I watched the Java essential course on Lynda and I did understand a little the difference between C in Java, however I don't know how to proceed from here to actual Android development.
If anyone can recommend me finding a crash course, a book or any other resource that could get me up and running as soon as possible, I would really appreciate it.
I don't mind spending money on it.
Thanks in advance.
Fabian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A great resource for Android development is the official Android training documentation from Google, as well as these tutorials. Let me know if you still have questions I'll be happy to help.

thanks little question regrading databases
shimp208 said:
A great resource for Android development is the official Android training documentation from Google, as well as these tutorials. Let me know if you still have questions I'll be happy to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Thanks for your help I learned a lot and I'm already planning my app
I just have one question that could really help.
I want to make an app where people on different devices can interact and send each other tasks. I guess I need a kind of SQL server that supports Android, right? Is there a better or at least more economic way to do it if I will have around 1000 users where each one can add people to send tasks to?
Many thanks,
Fabian

And one more question
Is there any way to do a phone number authentication (like Whatsapp) instead of user name and password which I think is a little to tedious for my planned app ?
Thanks in advance

Hola, for the task sending. Would you like to make all task public? Or should you send it like a message?
But when i need access to a server, i use php scripts. But we can take that later, when you have answered my last question
For the phone number authentication, you have to have a online database, with all phone numbers. User inserts their phone number, the first time they starts the app. Then you can retrieve it from the database. But we can also take that later.
I´m glad if i helped.
(Sorry for my bad english.. )

Hola
Well I want it to be like a manager that gives a task to his employee. I want the task to be between them and only they can close it.
Likewise, it would be a problem if I make a simple phone number insertion if there's no validation. I was thinking about a number verification (like whatsapp) to prevent other people from accessing the tasks.
Do you think it's possible or should I go with username and password?
Thanks

fabiansc said:
Hi,
Thanks for your help I learned a lot and I'm already planning my app
I just have one question that could really help.
I want to make an app where people on different devices can interact and send each other tasks. I guess I need a kind of SQL server that supports Android, right? Is there a better or at least more economic way to do it if I will have around 1000 users where each one can add people to send tasks to?
Many thanks,
Fabian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am using OpenShift - https://www.openshift.com/developers - which is a open source cloud architecture in that they offer packages like NodeJS and DB's. They allow you to have 'gears' which I guess is their name for services running on their cloud. The free account has 3 gears.
I currently only have a NodeJS server running to deliver files however (as far as I understand it) you can have MySQL and others as a backend. I would think that whatever devices you develop on would simply log into the DB and look up messages/tasks etc. I would also think that your app could insert those things. The best part is it is free until you reach Enterprise level or so. I would check it out since free is good. Offhand, I do not know what DB's Android supports via java but MySQL is probably one of them.
Just some info for you to examine.
Good luck

Hola, of course its possible! But maybe Username and Password is easiest.
You can use e-mail validation.
I actually worked on a application, there store products in databases. So i have tried it before. Ask if you are confused
And Sum1nil, sqlite is implemented in android, so for local database, use sqlite.
But for online database access, i use php

[Completed] [Q] Android Installed Security Certificates and System Installed Apps

Does a comprehensive and plain english list exist anywhere that tells who is who and why they have a security certificate installed on my android phone?
I've asked this before and never found an answer. I find it odd that it isn't questioned and recently when installing FoxFi, it was made more poignant when many became up in arms about the FoxFi cert and the notification that some unknown entity could be monitioring activity. FoxFi is pretty clear about why that cert is there and I can't say that for the factory installed ~200 certs.
Also, is there a comprehensive list anywhere that tells what factory installed and system apps do? Many have very obscure names and even names which are quite misleading upon actually discovering what they really do. I'm sure I can't be the only one that would like to know exactly which apps are safe to freeze, disable or uninstall and upon doing so, what functionality will be lost or what other apps will no longer work, if any.
I think Google needs to step things up in these two areas so people can actually know. The work in the area of app permissions is a step in that direction, but, still a long way from full and forthright disclosure aimed at educating all android device owners.
Thanks for any direction you can provide.

Hmmmmm.... its merely about the desire to know why every android I've owned for coming on ten years now has security certs installed belonging to the DOD, Japanese Government, Experia, Equifax and many more that I have no idea who they are unless I want to research each and everyone of them. Even doing so in most cases still doesn't reveal why those entities have a cert on my phone and what it actually means. I wonder what happens if they are removed and why they are there in the first place.
As far as the many pre-installed apps that I can't imagine many people having a clue as to why they are installed or what they actually do, well, that kinda speaks for itself as well.
Nobody else wonders or does everyone else but me already know?
However, in the mean time, I'll refine my quest to changing permissions and any insightful threads on that for dummies would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hi
Thanks for writing to us at XDA Assist. Unfortunately I can't find anything relating to your question on XDA, it's probably best to ask here:
Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

No response in two days, thread closed.