I don't know what it is, or how to use it. but it seems to be vital for development, can someone please explain it please?
It stands for Android Debug Bridge (I believe). It is part of the Android SDK and it used to communicate with the phone in a number of ways, it can get logs of every action performed (for if you set it up correctly you can see every time you touch the screen, where you touched it and if movement was involved in what direction and speed.) it can also be used to have access to Android Terminal (Shell access).
Unless you want to develop or wanting to root etc there is no real need to use it.
Google it there's lots of Information on it.
i have rooted my phone, and i'm using villainrom 10.3.
i would quite like to start developing, so it would be good to have a guide.
archie winnington-ingram said:
i have rooted my phone, and i'm using villainrom 10.3.
i would quite like to start developing, so it would be good to have a guide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, to get started, how about http://www.villainrom.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=379 which explains a bit about adb etc.
What kind of development are you interested in? Other things like eclipse and the android SDK might be of interest to you
Related
[rooted NT using Albert's 4.5] old school IT guy, just don't know android
This site doesn't seem to be very welcoming of basic questions so I would like to find a place I can get up to speed. I'm reading and searching but most of the answers include elements that are over my head so I don't end up making much progress. I've also tried the basic Google searches for "android for dummies", "android basics", etc. Part of it is that I haven't used a smart-phone, iPad, or other similar device so a lot of the really basic stuff isn't 2nd nature to me.
Where can I go to get a basic understanding of setting up, configuring, and using android efficiently.
Things I would like to understand:
When ICS (CM9?) becomes available on NT, if I am running CM7 and do an upgrade will all the look/feel & organizing configuring be gone and need to be redone with the new OS (does this happen each time you do an OS upgrade)?
Configuring the launcher(s) to get better look, more efficient use. I have read the honeycomb & homescreen configuration threads but am unclear as to whether those options are available with a rooted NT or only if you have installed CM7.
Just basic efficient navigation. If I am bouncing back & forth between apps (like Dolphin & installing/configuring an app) I currently end up using the "N" key to go back to the launcher and "reopening" each of the apps. Don't know if there is a more efficient way to bounce between open app instances.
A sincere thank you for ANY help. And sure if you would rather ridicule me for my lack of knowledge or point out that there is a search button I can certainly handle that too.
Honestly, just play with it and explore. You're not going to break anything. In the unlikely event that you do simply reformat your device.
Sent from my Nook Tablet using xda premium
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1415812
Hi! Since i assume you are well aware of conputer operating systems
Android is a derivative of the Linux kernel which powers Ubuntu, Red Hat, Gentoo etc. Linux is based off of Unix as are other OS like Mac OS X. These Kernels use unix commands to carry out tasks underneath the X server interface (desktop). Android has a similar setup and you can issue commands from a terminal either on the tablet itself or in windows to install, remove and execute scripts and programs. ADB is the android equivelent of a com2 port if you will and that is how the NT and
Kindke Fire where originally rooted. You can use Indirects Adb script to root your tablet and even install Google apps. I know you already have one of Alberts cards but if you want to learn up on Android you should study up on ADB.
The version of Android that comes with the NT is fine if you just want
to consume books and media. This is Gingerbread 2.3 that
was developed specifically for the NT. Since Google requires manufacturers
to meet certain requirements to license the proprietary parts of
their software and apps and Barnes and Noble decided to forgo licensing
they could not include Google Apps on their tablet. This is why although GApps can be forced to run, there are still problems.
Cm7 is a heavily modified version of Android Gingerbread. It has the code in its
kernel 2.3 to run the Gapps without problems and allow full
Access to the market. Some of the "new" ICS roms that are
being built and distributed are actually based on Cm7 and the new
Code is being backported to work on the old kernel. This means whenever
A new feature is introduced to ICS, it has to be rewritten
to work on an old kernel. There is work being done to build
a working 3.x kernel which is what ICS will be based on.
I personally will wait and hope that development is completed
before i use ICS.
The launcher is what draws all the icons and gets you around. I personally like go launcher, others like ADW (cm7 default). Zeem launcher is lightweight and basic.
Just try a couple and use home switcher from marketplace to switch between then
Until you find the one tgat strikes balance between feautures and speed. Hope this helps you get started.
Thanks much for the help so far. I do appreciate it.
I have spent some time with the FAQ/Newb thread but will spend more time on it.
Check out the XDA wiki, or the CyanogenMOD wiki for the best vanilla-android questions. Things like how to set up the android SDK, downloading drivers, etc.. Anything from beginner to advanced should be found in one of those 2 places.
The search function here is sufficient. You just need to know what you are searching for. Basically typing in "android for newbs" is gonna return probably every post with the word android in it. Good luck finding anything in that mess. You need to be fairly specific.
A lot of people here are more than willing to help, so long as you post in the correct areas and at least try to search for an answer to your question.
Just spend a lot of time searching through XDA and using google searches. There is a TON of information out there, I know it seems a bit overwhelming at first, at least it did for me when I got my first Android phone. As long as you are willing to put into the time to research and use trial and error, you will be fine I would start with reading how to root the device that you currently have, from there learn how to install CMW and then worry about CM7 and other ROMs. As you are learning these things I believe a lot will fall into place.
hey guys... just in the very beginning stages of wanting to learn how to develop android apps/roms and looking for some quick help to get on the right track. (my bro in law and father in law are developers in python and bro-in-law is really getting into android). I am reading through a book which teaches the beginner Java programming to start. In the mean time, I have installed the newest version of JDK (with all the plugins), Eclipse, and Android's plugin for Eclipse.
1. Is this all I need to get started?
2. Does every developer use Eclipse? It was my understanding that it is more of a "crutch" to make android app developing easier... I want to understand the code behind the program.
3. What other advise do you guys have for me?
Thanks for any and all help.
in_dmand said:
hey guys... just in the very beginning stages of wanting to learn how to develop android apps/roms and looking for some quick help to get on the right track. (my bro in law and father in law are developers in python and bro-in-law is really getting into android). I am reading through a book which teaches the beginner Java programming to start. In the mean time, I have installed the newest version of JDK (with all the plugins), Eclipse, and Android's plugin for Eclipse.
1. Is this all I need to get started?
2. Does every developer use Eclipse? It was my understanding that it is more of a "crutch" to make android app developing easier... I want to understand the code behind the program.
3. What other advise do you guys have for me?
Thanks for any and all help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Pretty much.
2) I don't know if every dev uses Eclipse, but it's not a crutch. You're probably thinking along the lines of the garbage web pages Frontpage generates. That's not what Eclipse does. It'll generate some tedious code for you (when you tell it to), but it's a powerful and customizable tool, not a babysitter. Anyone that tells you do use Notepad instead is an idiot.
3) A lot of people will disagree with me, but I think learning Java with no programming experience is about the hardest path you could take. But it's tough to try to learn another language for the sake of it while what you really want to do is make an Android app. Just know, going in, that the path you're taking is tough.
You'll hear about object oriented vs procedural programming, but what everyone neglects to say is that object oriented expands upon procedural. That's why, ideally, I'd recommend everyone start with a procedural language.
Make sure you at least get a decent understanding of what object oriented programming is all about. And make sure you bookmark the Java API! If you're not using it you're doing something wrong.
Edit: Disclaimer: I've been a software developer for over 10 years and using Java for most of that. I spent a couple days looking through the Android SDK and tutorials and decided I didn't have a good enough app idea to make it worth the effort.
thanks so much, your input is much appreciated!
Be patient and do write many small apps as a start. And oh, xda chef central is another great resource also stack overflow is your best friend.
I would suggest you be patiently read or watch some tutorial before do 'try and error' way to test what works. Learn from experienced dev is really important
From my RAZR MAXX
Yeah I agree, I would definitely start out with small apps. The first few (several?) things you write are going to suck. Even if they work perfectly well, the code behind them is going to be poorly designed and hard to maintain and enhance.
In a class way back when, our instructor had us writing a to-do list manager. You can start with a simple list and then enhance it as you learn more. ie, add/delete items, priorities, due dates, reminders, etc. You'll read and say "hey, I could use this to do so-and-so," or "I wish I could add this function" and learn how to do it.
In addition to learning how to code and use the Java api, you'll also learn why you eventually want to understand how to design as much as possible up front.
Hi Guys
I've been developing a http based Server Software that uses an android device as a single purpose device.. say an input terminal. So I developed a very simple app just for this input purpose (including some data from sensors on the device). It aslo loads a web view for a little html banner.
So it's really simple and the design is to basically turn an android device into a single purpose hardware... and with that said i really dont need 90% of what's installed and running on android, I dont need complicated launchers, and i DO need to kind of "lock the device down" to my app only (i guess kiosk like?)
I basically need the hardware and the OS to run my app.
if possible make everything as lightweight as possible (again as i dont need most of the android features)
and I would love it if my app can run on top of everything and at every start up (it can even pretend to be the SHELL or OS on top of Android OS, or kind of like that approach)..
So yeh, I'm hoping you guys can give me some advise/suggestions as to how best to approach this? (honestly i'm fairly new to android as a whole)
Things off the top of my head are:
1) Custom ROM like really plain/lightweight w/ lock down features <-- is there even any rom like this? or could i ask someone to code this for me?
2) Root, SuperSU, and xPosed Framework plugins and tweaks ? <-- i've not tried xPosed Framework and Im not sure if it's meant to be, or good for, my purpose.
3) Use an APP that can pretty much make a Kiosk out of the phone, w/ my app running permanently? <-- i've seen one kiosk app www.kioware.com but it's crazy expensive and i guess a bit of an overkill to what i need.. Perhaps there's a cheaper more simple kiosk app you can recommend? or perhaps an opensource project i can tinker with?
Would really appreciate your thoughts on this..
Thank you very much!
A common request
Can anyone direct me to a thread where this issue is resolved? It seems more complicated than it seems at first glance.
I'm not a developer but I have knowledge about Linux and how PCs in general work. Is there any book/course that explains how android works on a deeper level? I'm not interested in apps or user UIs, I want to know the deeper levels like how partitioning works, how the OS is loaded, why some bootloaders are locked by default, what a custom recovery is or what is the first thing to load when you power on your phone/tablet (do phones have a BIOS like PCs or anything equivalent?). Thanks in advance.
I'm also interested in this, but I think the answer is it's a bunch of undocumented proprietary baseband processor junk nobody will share for the boot, then the rest is basically a Linux distro made by 1000 monkeys on 1000 typewriters copy/pasting stuff provided by their hardware vendors together, and the components of that also probably have no documentation or incorrect documentation.
Just browsing through directory structures on a rooted phone there's so much unused and inaccessible junk like config files for really old versions of android, random vendor apks that aren't configured, and firmware for other processors strewn all over, sometimes multiple copies of the same structure, that it makes no sense. It looks like a bunch of vendors gave their support libraries to manufacturers with the intent they'd delete the unused parts and copy the used parts in, but the manufacturers don't understand how to do that so they just paste the same full directory structure several different places until it starts working.
If it made any sense, some people would just learn it and rooting new phones wouldn't be hard.
dan2525 said:
I'm not a developer but I have knowledge about Linux and how PCs in general work. Is there any book/course that explains how android works on a deeper level? I'm not interested in apps or user UIs, I want to know the deeper levels like how partitioning works, how the OS is loaded, why some bootloaders are locked by default, what a custom recovery is or what is the first thing to load when you power on your phone/tablet (do phones have a BIOS like PCs or anything equivalent?). Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The rabbit hole goes as deep as you want it to. I have plenty of information to get you started. Happy digging!
*A general overview of the android boot process, thanks to the Lineage OS developers.
*An old, but good read on reverse engineering aboot.
*And a much more recent article on reverse engineering android. It gets very detailed in this one. It also goes into the low level processes of android. Like; What loads the bootloader? That kind of stuff. I think this is what you're after. Hope it helps.
About the bios question. The short answer is, "kind of". They have a very simple and proprietary one that's not easy to access. It also does not function in the same ways that a PC bios does. It's more like a motherboard programmer. It's hard to explain. The last article goes into some of that.
Spaceminer said:
The rabbit hole goes as deep as you want it to. I have plenty of information to get you started. Happy digging!
*A general overview of the android boot process, thanks to the Lineage OS developers.
*An old, but good read on reverse engineering aboot.
*And a much more recent article on reverse engineering android. It gets very detailed in this one. It also goes into the low level processes of android. Like; What loads the bootloader? That kind of stuff. I think this is what you're after. Hope it helps.
About the bios question. The short answer is, "kind of". They have a very simple and proprietary one that's not easy to access. It also does not function in the same ways that a PC bios does. It's more like a motherboard programmer. It's hard to explain. The last article goes into some of that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know if there is any tool that lists all the various initscripts and settings in use on a running system? I'd like to remove Google entirely from my phone, but there are so many firmwares and initscripts all over the place that I can't even figure out which ones are actually used to run the system. Half of the settings files, properties, and commands return 0 results or 3-4 useless results when searching for them on the internet.
ZHNN said:
Do you know if there is any tool that lists all the various initscripts and settings in use on a running system? I'd like to remove Google entirely from my phone, but there are so many firmwares and initscripts all over the place that I can't even figure out which ones are actually used to run the system. Half of the settings files, properties, and commands return 0 results or 3-4 useless results when searching for them on the internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best way to remove google entirely is to flash a custom ROM or GSI if your device supports it. You really only need to look in system/app and system/priv-app for google stuff. Some phones use stock Google apps for things like the Calendar or MMS. So, to run google-less you may need to replace some system apps as well. Just a warning, even if you already know this. Removing certain apps, even google apps, may cause problems for normal operation. Definitely make a backup before deleting anything in the system.
ZHNN said:
Do you know if there is any tool that lists all the various initscripts and settings in use on a running system? I'd like to remove Google entirely from my phone, but there are so many firmwares and initscripts all over the place that I can't even figure out which ones are actually used to run the system. Half of the settings files, properties, and commands return 0 results or 3-4 useless results when searching for them on the internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm no expert but have been running lineageos 14.1 for some time now. It is a version of android 7.1 in which everything google has been removed. I use it with microG which replaces google play services.
You may wish to look into it instead of re-inventing the wheel.
I use it with a firewall (AFWall +), and Xprivacylua for additional privacy.
Is there a phone/android version that allows someone whos not an Android expert to actually have control over what their phones doing? Or is it just not possible nowadays for a regular person to fully control the info their phone sends?
Sorry if this sounds cynical, it really is a genuine question.
Thank you.
Hi Steve, it sounds like what you need is a rooted phone. Forgive me if you're already familiar with the term, but rooting basically gives you administrator rights over just about everything on your phone, with only a few exceptions depending on which Android version the phone is running. This allows you to do stuff like revoke permissions for apps, block ads, and change how Android looks and behaves.
Do you have a phone in mind already? If not, what's your budget?
questions should be posted in q/a Thread moved please review the rules ( located below)
rhythm_dx said:
Hi Steve, it sounds like what you need is a rooted phone. Forgive me if you're already familiar with the term, but rooting basically gives you administrator rights over just about everything on your phone, with only a few exceptions depending on which Android version the phone is running. This allows you to do stuff like revoke permissions for apps, block ads, and change how Android looks and behaves.
Do you have a phone in mind already? If not, what's your budget?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your help. I had a rooted phone, but a friend did it for me. Now I have a S8 active on Pie and from my research the bootloader I have (V5) is not rootable. I'm definitely not well versed in Android though and could be wrong. That's why I was wondering if there was a device that offered full control without the need and rick of rooting. If there's not, could you suggest one that is perhaps the simplest and least risky to root? I don't need top of the line, I don't game or anything and would be fine with getting something used. thanks again!
Luckily, there is a way in stock Android to control permissions! I forgot about it when I was typing my previous response. Here's an overview: https://www.howtogeek.com/355257/can-you-control-specific-permissions-on-android/ Hope that does what you're looking for.
If you want to do more with a rooted phone like block ads, there are some that are easily rootable, like the Google Pixel series. Here are a few options: https://www.androidcentral.com/best-phone-rooting-and-modding I liked the Pixel 2XL I used through my previous job, and I've heard good things about the other Pixels, for what that's worth. I haven't tried the other phones in that link, but the OnePlus phones have an excellent reputation.
There are many other phones that have varying degrees of difficulty for rooting, but I'm not aware of any relatively recent ones not on that list that I'd consider easy to root. I've found that the best approach to finding a new phone is going to GSM Arena's Phone Finder to put on my criteria, then coming back to XDA and searching through the forums to find out whether my prospective phone of choice has root yet. As you've discovered with your S8, some phones just never get there, which is pretty frustrating.
I hope that helps! Holler if you have any other questions.
Well, that's my main issue, you can only control certain permissions there. When I click "all permissions" I can see them all, but not turn them off. It's just a bummer that one has to go thru all this rigmarole to control a device they supposedly own. I was hoping maybe someone made a device that you could control stock, but I guess that was wishful thinking. Thanks again.
SteveJustSteve said:
Is there a phone/android version that allows someone whos not an Android expert to actually have control over what their phones doing? Or is it just not possible nowadays for a regular person to fully control the info their phone sends?
Sorry if this sounds cynical, it really is a genuine question.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must distinguish between Android OS itself and the apps that run on it: Android OS has no permissions you can invoke/revoke, only hardware/OS specific settings can be made there, but permissions can be granted/withdrawn from an app - if its developer has allowed the latter. To change the permissions of an app basically no rooted Android is required, this is done either via Android->Settings or via a 3rd-party APK editor.
BTW: It exist 3rd-party apps that can show you what apps are sending/receiving data over Internet.
Hint: Use your Android phone without Google.
Is root required to disable hardware?
SteveJustSteve said:
Is root required to disable hardware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, only a hammer. :laugh: