i have always been under the impression that aosp is android OPEN SOURCE project..therefore anyone can use it, you shouldnt need "permission"..just proper credits....did anyone get permission from google to use the code in the first place? So could someone please explain to me who the hell owns this code...thanks
Firstly, I'm not a lawyer so if you use the source code for Android, make a million dollars, and Google comes after you, don't come to me.
Now that that's out of the way, in open source projects, the source code is usually owned by the author. For example, if someone decided to make an alternate version of an open source project, he/she would own that code.
But owning the code doesn't mean someone can do anything with it. The thing that makes Open Source code open are the terms of use, or license that accompanies it. Most open source licenses describe (among other things) that people are free to do whatever they want with the code as long as derivative works follow the same license, include the license text and are also made available in source code form.
But this is just a general explanation of common open source license terms. For more details, have a look at the license that ships with the Android source code. Since it can change you're better off just delving in and reading it.
Enjoy,
- chris
As Android is built off of Linux and filed with the GPL2 license that would be your best option. As for permission being asked that is an XDA rule as it is respect which is very lacking as of late. Also the reason for developers holding the best stuff to themselfs and other respectable developers that know what real development is. Using the work of others and adding a theme is not development neither is kang builds. Far too much of this going on.
cttttt said:
Firstly, I'm not a lawyer so if you use the source code for Android, make a million dollars, and Google comes after you, don't come to me.
Now that that's out of the way, in open source projects, the source code is usually owned by the author. For example, if someone decided to make an alternate version of an open source project, he/she would own that code.
But owning the code doesn't mean someone can do anything with it. The thing that makes Open Source code open are the terms of use, or license that accompanies it. Most open source licenses describe (among other things) that people are free to do whatever they want with the code as long as derivative works follow the same license, include the license text and are also made available in source code form.
But this is just a general explanation of common open source license terms. For more details, have a look at the license that ships with the Android source code. Since it can change you're better off just delving in and reading it.
Enjoy,
- chris
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Click to collapse
Thanks for taking the time to write that...I think I understand a little now
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Related
If HTC provides an android ROM localized in any language (say Arabic for instance), then does that make it obligated by GPL license to share the localization code?
HTC has release HTC Magic in middle east and the ROM supports right-to-left Arabic in the standard android apps. So I'm wondering if they would publicly share the localization code.
I think the only GPL code is Kernel and kernel doesn't have localization.
Its pretty much screwed until they release Hero in the middle east which could be coming very soon, then we can just use their ROM, otherwise its nothing to do with the kernel its all with the rom
As other posters have said, only the Kernel is GPL'd and the Kernel 'only' provides the software to enable base functions like cpu, memory management, drivers (wifi, touchscreen, etc.). The actual applications that HTC provide are private and proprietory, which is all legal an above board.
Thanks all for your replies
Please note that I'm not complaining about extar (add-on) applications they have bundled with the rom, I'm basically concerned with the standard applications including the browser, message reader. I though these were open source and thus protected by the GPL license!!!
Contrary to what everyone else is saying, the kernel is NOT the only open-source/GPL portion of the Hero software.
Yes, the *HTC* software is closed-source, however, don't forget that it runs on top of Android, which (aside from certain google apps) is entirely open-source as well. I'm pretty sure that the localization is part of the Android code, and not something HTC developed themselves, thus you can get the localization source by downloading the Android OS source.
(I could be wrong about the localization being part of Android though.)
craig0r said:
Yes, the *HTC* software is closed-source, however, don't forget that it runs on top of Android, which (aside from certain google apps) is entirely open-source as well.
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Sorry, but this isn't quite correct!
The Android Open Source Project has released the entire base source code for Android (which excludes the kernel) under an Apache Software License (ASL). This means that it is open source, and anyone can do anything with it including creating proprietary software, because the ASL is not a "copyleft" license.
What this means is that HTC could take the Android source code, make a number of changes under the hood, stick it on a phone, and sell it. However, under the terms of the ASL, they are *not* required to divulge their modified sources if they don't wish to do so. Effectively, this means that their customized version of Android becomes closed source.
In the context of the original question, what this means is that if HTC rewrote the "standard" Android apps to support Arabic they have absolutely no requirement to make the source code for those applications public. They might - they just don't have to!
Regards,
Dave
foxmeister said:
Sorry, but this isn't quite correct!
The Android Open Source Project has released the entire base source code for Android (which excludes the kernel) under an Apache Software License (ASL).
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O I C
I had no idea. I thought it was GPL. But that makes sense, it's more appealing to handset makers that way.
foxmeister said:
Sorry, but this isn't quite correct!
Dave
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Dave, i'm really disappointed
but sincerely appreciate your explanation.
regards///
What are source codes and why for we need them? Example?
Thanks!
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how i define it may not be exactly correct, but i know it is partially.
a Source Code is like... a manager at a grocery store? Without the manager, it would probably be a bit wild.
Source Code is everything that runs on your phone, compiled into 1 thing, and we need it so we can make our phones more stable, faster, etc.
wait till someone else replies with a more intelligent answer lol, i know what it is. but its hard to explain it from my point of view.
xriderx66 said:
how i define it may not be exactly correct, but i know it is partially.
a Source Code is like... a manager at a grocery store? Without the manager, it would probably be a bit wild.
Source Code is everything that runs on your phone, compiled into 1 thing, and we need it so we can make our phones more stable, faster, etc.
wait till someone else replies with a more intelligent answer lol, i know what it is. but its hard to explain it from my point of view.
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Click to collapse
I see, but is a source code really a set of numbers that make the phone better?
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Computer code or language code is the way we get computers/ phones etc. to execute certain commands or strings of commands that want to do in order to make the computer do a specific thing.
Source code is text written in a computer programming language. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers to work in a specific platform.
Once you have completed a program in source code it is then complied by another software to make it smaller and essentially encrypts the command source code language.
Releasing the source code allows programmers and developers to see exactly how the command structure is built, then the devs can better write custom applications without fewer bugs and less guesswork.
Right now on the vibrant, we are using source code from the captivate and the Euro I9000 platform which are similar but not exact to write custom roms.
Once we have the Vibrant source code we will then totally understand the command code structure and the devs will be able to write better roms.
Sorry this is abbreviated and simplistic explanation but at least you will understand the general overview
A source code is what is used to make an application, or game, or OS...etc.
For example: I make a program, and to make this program, I have to make a bunch of files and compile them together to make the program itself. And I'd give out the source code if I want others to update/add to my program and they can compile it themselves. It's the programming language which is used to make the program.
There are thousands of languages, such as C++, Java, Unix...etc.
In short, source code is for developers.
Thanks for your help everyone. Now I know :-D
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Nabeel10 said:
Thanks for your help everyone. Now I know :-D
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It's always good to know what these things are to avoid posting the wrong questions to the wrong thread. Glad you came here instead of just asking how to flash kernel source.
To reiterate...source code are basically the blue print of a device. By having the blue print, you can look over it and make adjustment to improve device performance....
OK, I must say some of these are close but still off...
Source code will never run on your phone. Source code is human readable programming language. It is the language used by software developers to write programs. Examples of such languages are c, c++, java, python, etc. Once programs are written in such a language they are still useless as no machine can execute that code natively. This is where another piece of software called a compiler comes in. A compiler turns the human readable code into machine executable binaries that can run on a machine. Compilers can compile for different architectures, for example x86, x86-64, ARM, etc.
The big deal with getting the source code is that developers get something they can tweak, modify and recompile. This makes the job of optimizing and adding features MUCH easier than doing so without source. There are ways to de-compile binaries (turning machine executable code into human readable code), but it's not always accurate, and the code produced with such methods is usually much less concise than the original source.
shrapnelx said:
OK, I must say some of these are close but still off...
Source code will never run on your phone. Source code is human readable programming language. It is the language used by software developers to write programs. Examples of such languages are c, c++, java, python, etc. Once programs are written in such a language they are still useless as no machine can execute that code natively. This is where another piece of software called a compiler comes in. A compiler turns the human readable code into machine executable binaries that can run on a machine. Compilers can compile for different architectures, for example x86, x86-64, ARM, etc.
The big deal with getting the source code is that developers get something they can tweak, modify and recompile. This makes the job of optimizing and adding features MUCH easier than doing so without source. There are ways to de-compile binaries (turning machine executable code into human readable code), but it's not always accurate, and the code produced with such methods is usually much less concise than the original source.
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That helped too! Thanks!
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I assume the source code is already on the hand of samsung. why don't they just release it?
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iynfynity said:
I assume the source code is already on the hand of samsung. why don't they just release it?
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Samsung is a member of open handset alliance, and must comply with the provisions tied to GPL - they must release the source code within 60 days the firmware made public.
Hope this helps.
Sent from my Bionix powered Vibrant
iynfynity said:
I assume the source code is already on the hand of samsung. why don't they just release it?
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maybe they want to hide all the bugs they couldn't have avoided.. or they may want to hide all that potential features that vibrant already have we don't know yet about
according to gnu general public license that all android os softwares fall under, source codes for any officially announced os should be released within 60 days.. hopefully samsung will release source codes for froyo soon-
Does anyone know where I can find the webos 3.0 source code. I would like to find the browser source code in particular.
Proprietary
HP's webOS is a proprietary software, so it's not opened source... though that could change. But I don't think HP would do that. Sorry, there isn't any source code available to the pubic at this time.
I thought Preware had functional kernel source? (meaning you could build a kernel and have all of the drivers "work"...)
Here is something to look at.
http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Main_Page
thanks
quickmirror said:
HP's webOS is a proprietary software, so it's not opened source... though that could change. But I don't think HP would do that. Sorry, there isn't any source code available to the pubic at this time.
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Thank I was just wonder of someone had hacked the OS
Hacked
In what way do you mean hacked? The interface is proprietary but the sound services etc.. use opensource applications like PulseAudio.
That source can be found here:
opensource.palm.com/packages.html
http://opensource.palm.com/packages.html heres the source for some of it at least
My mistake
Sorry about that, Palm owning the OS slipped my mind. Thank you for the link.
On a positive note, the kernel source is there... which should have the driver source that could be migrated into the android kernel... Kernel & patches
if you download the SDK from HP it has some sample code and it has the browser as one of the examples
Browser source (webkit that is) is on the palm site
You can download one of the webOS Doctors and extract it using 7zip. Easy access to a lot of the code, since it's mostly javascript/css.
http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Webos_Doctor_Versions
The Browser app is in /usr/palm/applications/com.palm.app.browser/
The sourcecode will be released soon per the news about HP's decision to release it. ENYO 's source code will also be released
Here you can find the information and source code you need to build an Android-compatible device. Android is an open-source software stack for mobile devices, and a corresponding open-source project led by Google. We created Android in response to our own experiences launching mobile apps. We wanted to make sure that there was no central point of failure, so that no industry player can restrict or control the innovations of any other. That's why we created Android, and made its source code open.
http://www.micode.net/portal.php
Its time to reopen the port project! Good luck guys!
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mastershefis said:
Here you can find the information and source code you need to build an Android-compatible device. Android is an open-source software stack for mobile devices, and a corresponding open-source project led by Google. We created Android in response to our own experiences launching mobile apps. We wanted to make sure that there was no central point of failure, so that no industry player can restrict or control the innovations of any other. That's why we created Android, and made its source code open.
http://www.micode.net/portal.php
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Click to collapse
But, the github seems non-useful... contains only their apps n stuff... maybe they are uploadin it... only time will tell...
Edit: Alright, its nothing big, neither a full source, its just some PatchRom project that they have open sourced...
Hello
i am just on a fishing expedition here so please bear with me. I am interested in a rom that is geared towards privacy or security based on android. With all of the id theft and government hanky panky i have started researching this subject but the only thing definitive i have found is the "blackphone". I would prefer something a little less proprietary and more open source.
If you know of a project or can suggest any apps that could aid in my quest (privacy, encryption, etc) please let me know.
Thanks
darwinwasright said:
Hello
i am just on a fishing expedition here so please bear with me. I am interested in a rom that is geared towards privacy or security based on android. With all of the id theft and government hanky panky i have started researching this subject but the only thing definitive i have found is the "blackphone". I would prefer something a little less proprietary and more open source.
If you know of a project or can suggest any apps that could aid in my quest (privacy, encryption, etc) please let me know.
Thanks
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Click to collapse
If it is open source then it is open door... Simple as that. There is no secure ROM, for any Android based phone.
open source?
Solarenemy68 said:
If it is open source then it is open door... Simple as that. There is no secure ROM, for any Android based phone.
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My understanding of the title "open source" is that the source code is open or available freely for developers to download and work with to fit their needs. This is in contrast to M....soft and A.... who hide their source code in a deep dark cave somewhere. Linux is a perfect example of this. There are several different variations of Linux that are modified for privacy and security as well as other purposes. It is well known that Linux is much more secure than standard out of the box OS's and this is directly attributable to the community effort for development and policing of the operating system........thanks to open source.
darwinwasright said:
My understanding of the title "open source" is that the source code is open or available freely for developers to download and work with to fit their needs. This is in contrast to M....soft and A.... who hide their source code in a deep dark cave somewhere. Linux is a perfect example of this. There are several different variations of Linux that are modified for privacy and security as well as other purposes. It is well known that Linux is much more secure than standard out of the box OS's and this is directly attributable to the community effort for development and policing of the operating system........thanks to open source.
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Click to collapse
The reason Linux is so secure in regards to virus and exploits is because so few people use it is not a target for the groups that create the virus and exploits.
What I meant by open door equals open source is simply that. As long as the source files are open source that can be reverse engineered by anyone and exploited. There was a news article about France and some other countries creating their own private internet to keep the US from spying on them. That is all good except they have not put human into the equation. As long as humans are involved in the programming and creation of secure systems, there will always be a backdoor or exploit. It is very easy to buy s person and have them give access to a secure system.
There is no such thing as a secure system. Hardened maybe, but never secure. The very nature and function of these phones make them insecure. If you want true security then a smart phone is not your best option. Especially not one like the ONE or others that are so heavily integrated in to social media.
Getting back on point.
I did not start this thread as a debate. I am looking for responses that address the issue posted as it is posted.If you feel like you can contribute something to the quest I am on feel free to .
Thanks
As forum rules state... the Roms here can only be open source else they will be deleted.
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