How to use Android Emulator to test custom ROMs - XPERIA X10 Android Development

** Currently writing this, please wait !
Hello there,
here is a new tutorial I'm sure you'll like. As usual it took me LOTS of work to get all info and make this to work, so now I share it with you and show how to run custom ROMs within Android SDK Emulator.
Please note it's mainly for XPERIA X10, but process is the same for other Android-powered devices. It will show you the process for Linux.
1. Download the latest Android SDK.
2. Open the archive, and copy the folder android-sdk-linux-x86 to a safe place. You can also rename it to an easier name. Example : I placed it in ~/Home and renamed it androidsdk.
3. Go to the SDK folder, then in the folder Tools/. Double-click on Android and choose Run.
4. Go to Available packages, and choose to install (choose at your will !)
Android SDK Tools, revision 8
Android SDK Platform-tools, revision 1
SDK Platform Android {VERSION(S) YOU WANT} (!) You need at least one Platform. For X10, you can download 1.6, 2.1. You can also add 2.2, 2.3.
Once it's done, close the window.
5. Download Xperia X10 add-on for SDK. (?) Read the PDF add-on guide, it is helpful !
Copy the folder (from the archive) XPERIA-X10_r1 inside the folder add-ons of your Android SDK folder ({androidsdk}/add-ons/).
6. Run terminal, go to your Android SDK folder, then in tools folder, and run
Code:
./android list target
.
Note the id number of the Android you want to develop (ie for me, Android 2.3 is
Code:
id: 3 or "android-9"
). (?) You might also want to note the name ("android-X") as it might be useful later.
7. Now, create AVD (a profile for emulator). Usual command (assuming you are INSIDE the /tools/ folder !) is
Code:
android create avd -n NAMEYOUWANT -t {ID}
So, for us, it will be
Code:
./android create avd -n myx10 -t 3
8. To generate the AVD, you will be prompted several info. Type these for Xperia X10 :
Create custom hardware profile : yes
SD Card support : yes
Asbstracted LCD density : 160 (correct if I'm wrong ?)
DPad support : no (?)
Accelerometer : yes
Max camera pixels (H) : 3264
Cache partition size : 66 (?)
Audio playback : yes
Trackball : no (?)
Max cam pixels (V) : 2448
Camera support : yes
Battery support : yes
Touch screen : yes
Audio record : yes
GPS : yes
Cache partition : yes
Keyboard : no
heap size : 32
RAM : 280
GSM Modem : yes
(?) I recommend you to create one profile for each Android version you want to run (so : you just have to change the ID, and create same profile). If you don't, you won't be able to run custom ROMs using other versions of Android (ie your AVD profile is 2.3 and you run a 2.1 custom ROM).
9. Done ! Take your custom ROM (downloaded, compiled... In this case, files are in {YourAndroidRepoFolder}/out/target/product/generic/. It comes with about 3 files, including a file called system.img. Copy this file into the folder (hidden) .android/myx10{In fact, the name you've chosen earlier "NAMEYOUWANT"}.avd/
10. Run terminal, go to Android SDK folder/tools/ (if you didn't close your current terminal, you're already in and run this command to run emulator WITH your custom ROM :
Code:
./emulator -avd myx10{again the "NAMEYOUWANT" you've chosen before}
Wait and enjoy !
(?) First boot is long - it's NORMAL. Just like on a real device, the OS will be cached and will work faster and faster.

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not too sure... but... isnt heap size 32? and lcd density standard at 240? x

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http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=769057

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U can also grab a pre-made x10 avd from the se dev website

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gavriel18 said:
U can also grab a pre-made x10 avd from the se dev website
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet. developer.sonyericsson.com

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Thanks for info, I can correct this
@XperiaX10iUser : your thread link is for Windows, there was nothing for Linux ?
I knew there was an AVD, I didn't know where it was

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deanwarez said:
not too sure... but... isnt heap size 32? and lcd density standard at 240? x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get the info ? I'd like to be sure before change it
Density is 160 as standard, at least in the last SDK. I don't know what's the correct for X10 (Still can't grab the pre-made AVD from SE, it has all info).
EDIT : lol, missed the AVD in add-on, I look at this !
Indeed, heap is 32 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=844256).

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Hey,
thanks for this useful thread!
I have problems in this whole process of booting a custom rom ( in my case Miui) in the Emulator . I have compiled the whole rom on a Linux VM with this Guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=913606 and pushed it in a Windows system into android-9/images/system.img but it won't boot I don't know what I am doing wrong. My system.img is 2 GB big I think this is not normal. if i am replacing the system.img with the original out of the emulator, it is booting. I just want to boot the Miui rom to port some features to Cyanogenmod... Thanks in advance. I have a HTC Legend btw .

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deanwarez said:
not too sure... but... isnt heap size 32? and lcd density standard at 240? x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Defaults: 240 density and 24mb dalvik in latesy build. The density is fine but increase 32mb dalvik heap and getting Jit v2 on via xRecovery 0.3.. You can always change values anyways
sent from heaven via x10a custom

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@MrHassel > Thanks a lot for info, I'll correct this later then
@Westi01 > Sorry, but I don't know how it works for Legend -- but the generic booting process should be the same. Remember some roms use custom stuff (like kernel addresses) whose can make the emulator not to run. But as I know, it should be rare. You should check indeed your rom, as you say it's 2Gb, it looks very huge indeed. AOSP (compiled) is about 45Mb or 80Mb if I'm not wrong (can't remember lol). Give a try to kitchening method, or try to run emulator from Linux, gotta be easier

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Westi01 said:
Hey,
thanks for this useful thread!
I have problems in this whole process of booting a custom rom ( in my case Miui) in the Emulator . I have compiled the whole rom on a Linux VM with this Guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=913606 and pushed it in a Windows system into android-9/images/system.img but it won't boot I don't know what I am doing wrong. My system.img is 2 GB big I think this is not normal. if i am replacing the system.img with the original out of the emulator, it is booting. I just want to boot the Miui rom to port some features to Cyanogenmod... Thanks in advance. I have a HTC Legend btw .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe u just need a simulator build instead of a device build.

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i got confused after step 6. What terminal should i start? I am using windows xp and the terminal i am trying to use is cmd (correct me if needed pls ).Then what? i want to test some ICS roms but i cant get them to work Pls help!

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Can you post a direct like to the SDK? i have no idea where it is.
Sent from my X10i using xda app-developers app

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Hi, is this normal while running Android SDK Manager?
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
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"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
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"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
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I'm using one x. Where can I find the SDK files.

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Hello,
I am facing a problem while starting virtual device.
When i run "emulator -avd devicenaem" after few second this message popup: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\tools>ko:Invalid system partition im
age type: yaffs2 (expected ext4)
I also tried to use "-system path_to_system.img" but nothing fine.