Hi guys,
I'm new to the forum, but I plan on developing ROMs with a few people, so I will probably frequent them soon.
In my Operating Systems class, I was asked to come up with ideas for a project. Well, since I'm just starting to build Android ROMs anyways, I was going to see if I could use this idea for class. I guess my question is, do you guys think this would be a good project to last a few weeks of the semester (at least)? If not, can you suggest ways that will make it longer or shorter? We would be building them for a Droid Incredible.
I have a general idea, and it seams that just getting an AOSP ROM up and running would be no problem at all, from what I read anyways. It seems like the tailoring or the importing of ROMs is what really takes time and effort.
Thanks in advance for the input.
It depends on the class skills. But it's really great idea to study Linux and low level Android features. uh.. I didn't have such interesting project during my university years ((
The only big issue is high initial level of knowledge. Also many peoples may quickly give up fighting with some unclear compile or deploy issues. It's not trivial to debug on such devices. They may quickly lost their interest. But overall this is great idea. Where are you teaching?
I'm not actually the professor, I'm a student at Saginaw Valley State University (Michigan). I'm the "Class Leader" so I told the professor that I would give him the list of ideas I had for projects.
If it's for a grade, it might be a good idea then. They may lose interest, but if their grades are on the line, I would hope they struggle through it. Plus, we are all in groups, and they can pick another project if they don't like this one.
Thanks for the info, Purler.
Does anyone know how different it would be to make a ROM for something that requires a mouse input, like the Raspberry Pi?
Related
Recently we have seen HD2 Android developers discontinue their builds LOL! Interesting to note that all are going to school? Its unfortunate that the Cooking on HD2 Android is kept much of a secret...what I suggest is if they are discontinuing then they should share their Cooking knowledge. Of course most of the pple aren't farmilia with Linux stuff lol! however I am sure that with a good tutorial and the tools you are using, pple will be good to go.
Not to hide words, I am calling out to Pongster, Shui8 and Darkstone to now share their knowledge for the good of the community.
Thank You.
Staxxthedan said:
Recently we have seen HD2 Android developers discontinue their builds LOL! Interesting to note that all are going to school? Its unfortunate that the Cooking on HD2 Android is kept much of a secret...what I suggest is if they are discontinuing then they should share their Cooking knowledge. Of course most of the pple aren't farmilia with Linux stuff lol! however I am sure that with a good tutorial and the tools you are using, pple will be good to go.
Not to hide words, I am calling out to Pongster, Shui8 and Darkstone to now share their knowledge for the good of the community.
Thank You.
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+1
I Agree
nothings hidden.. check htc-linux, freenode
I see what your getting at but I dont think its fair to say that anyone is "hiding" anything.......
All the information you need is out there but the problem is that doing something like this is realy quite difficult if you dont already have a good amount of knowledge on the subject.
Its one thing to learn from a tutorial but for something like this you would really need to start from scratch and the learning curve for a beginner taking on such a project would be very very steep.
You are right though, if more people took up these sort of projects then the world would be a better place
I just wish I had the time / mental capacity to do it myself.
Yeah, I see what you are saying. I guess one just has to step up to the game. Create the mental capacity and take the plunge into the deep. I guess the learning starts again then, but I just wish these guys put up something for the taking rather than just dropping off projects and run....
Hey there, everyone.
I'm just looking for some advice. I've been using my Verizon Samsung Fascinate since November, and for the most part have been a very happy user. Ever since I installed a Gingerbread-based ROM, I have been extremely happy with both the device's performance and new features (nothing says cool like the Old TV Shutoff animation). Lately, I have been wanting to try my hand at modifying and packaging my own Android ROMs for the Fascinate. Obviously, I have never done something like this before, so I'm looking for some advice.
I've been programming in Java for over a year now and I'm very familiar with the language as a whole. I've used it in various programming competitions through school along with building some applications and tools for the company I'm currently interning with. Right now, I feel that I have the basic programming skills required to look through code and understand what the logic behind it is (at least I hope).
My question for you all is this: should I jump right in and start poking through the AOSP code, or would it be more beneficial for me to start off as an Android App Developer, slowly working my way into Android hacking? I have some ideas for potential apps (which I'll probably end up developing regardless, but at a later date), so if it would be more beneficial to just develop apps, I certainly have a basis for my ideas.
Any personal stories/recommendations would be excellent. Thanks in advance for any/all answers!
So, I've been a member for a while, and I've done my fair share of using everyone elses ROMs on my phones, starting from HeroC, to Moment, to Epic, to OG Evo, then on to TMo phones like the MT4G and Nexus S.
Now that I'm back on Sprint and rocking this beast of an Evo 3D, I'd like to actually CONTRIBUTE to the community. I give you Dev's/Chefs mad respect for what you do, and I'd like to be a part of that as well.
So, here's the actual questions for this Q&A thread: Is there any special programming knowledge I need to start cooking roms, or starting to dev? Do I need to know code? Do I need to be fearless with my own device? (lol) Is there a *For Dummies*-ish site/thread/forum that would be a good idea to read up on?
I realize that there are probably a million threads like this, spread all over the interwebz and these are PROBABLY some "OMG NOOB SEARCH" questions, but in my opinion the best place to go for information is directly from the source
Believe or not...the best source of info IS searching...not us...learn the basics...adb, java, XML, start small...learn Linux and learn, learn, learn....all great developers and chefs...are self taught...because what you learn on your own...you learn to ask questions to yourself,,,for yourself...it is either in you or not..a passion for knowledge in programming and or modifications of system cannot be taught for the drive..because if you search first and learn by doing with the tutorials...then and only then can you ask the right questions..
^^^ I've never seen so many ellipses. :s
@OP Yeah, I'm trying to do the same thing. I've picked up a book at B&N titled "Android Apps for Absolute Beginners", by Wallace Jackson. It's pretty up-to-date, and includes Honeycomb bits.
It's readable (as opposed to reference-able), and it's taught me quite a bit. I recommend you have a super basic background in Java (any object-oriented language would be good, but all the code in the book is Java and XML), something like Introduction to Computer Science or similar would do fine.
Good luck with that, and lemme know if you find any resources I should know about.
Zak Jones! said:
^^^ I've never seen so many ellipses. :s
@OP Yeah, I'm trying to do the same thing. I've picked up a book at B&N titled "Android Apps for Absolute Beginners", by Wallace Jackson. It's pretty up-to-date, and includes Honeycomb bits.
It's readable (as opposed to reference-able), and it's taught me quite a bit. I recommend you have a super basic background in Java (any object-oriented language would be good, but all the code in the book is Java and XML), something like Introduction to Computer Science or similar would do fine.
Good luck with that, and lemme know if you find any resources I should know about.
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It's a bad habit.. I commend you on what you are doing...my background was I taught myself 8086 assembler for the at class back awhile ago. Nobody would help so I digested book after book and line after line of assembler and a language called Force. To make a Long story short, I wrote my first commercial assembler library with over 1600 functions! That's a lot of code. I was one person that wrote it, the manual and support over compuserve. I was very proud of and I believe no other language library even came near it. It was at the time the most feature rich one available with another library called Funcky II with around 1400+ functions. Both were C callable, large memory model. Today's hardware do not need that crap. Then eventually went into programming full time a little after that. So I speak from experience. It is one thing to ask for guidance and another for specific items. Every good programmer, without exception was self taught..yes they went to college for computer programming or others like me that did not..they shared a common theme which is self motivation and the discipline not to quit. I once asked a very good programmer what is the secret to becoming a great one and his reply was simply code and code away. A very good reference for programmers is in fact the library source. It is invaluable. Hope this helps a little bit. I did tout my horn, yes, but you needed to get a background so you would not think I was as my dad used to say "speaking out of my a?s".
life64x said:
It's a bad habit.. I commend you on what you are doing...my background was I taught myself 8086 assembler for the at class back awhile ago. Nobody would help so I digested book after book and line after line of assembler and a language called Force. To make a Long story short, I wrote my first commercial assembler library with over 1600 functions! That's a lot of code. I was one person that wrote it, the manual and support over compuserve. I was very proud of and I believe no other language library even came near it. It was at the time the most feature rich one available with another library called Funcky II with around 1400+ functions. Both were C callable, large memory model. Today's hardware do not need that crap. Then eventually went into programming full time a little after that. So I speak from experience. It is one thing to ask for guidance and another for specific items. Every good programmer, without exception was self taught..yes they went to college for computer programming or others like me that did not..they shared a common theme which is self motivation and the discipline not to quit. I once asked a very good programmer what is the secret to becoming a great one and his reply was simply code and code away. A very good reference for programmers is in fact the library source. It is invaluable. Hope this helps a little bit. I did tout my horn, yes, but you needed to get a background so you would not think I was as my dad used to say "speaking out of my a?s".
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Nice, programming in assembler is no small feat. If you're familiar with Linux and Java you should have no problem figuring ROMs out. Dsixda has a kitchen he posted in the Android Chef's section that is very useful and apktool along with either WinMerge or Meld can be used to learn from the different ROMs.
It was a labor of love. I just seemed so cool in asm. Actually, what I want to write is a decompiler for the android with near perfect retrieval of code back. I seen the engine in smali and just do it for the heck of it. It has the parser in it..but I don't know java that well. Can't even write a hello world..) I was darn good in Delphi with windows and would be more comfortable with that. If somebody wrote simply a lexical for the small/ Bali output then that would all you would need for that type of program. I did not study java's reflection that good and it's another route. I want to give others who want develop the fun and passion I had. This was a hobby when I started. Years later, that hobby never left me. I respect the **** out of you and other developers out there, no matter what phone, tablet or computer because yes you are programming..you are giving something of yourself to others. Non programmers really do not know that developers for all the bugs and crap that comes with it...it is our soul, hearts and emotions that go into every line..every file we put out.
This you don't learn from a book..this you learn by making come alive what is inside our brains.
Thanks for the responses guys! Much appreciated. Looking forward to diving in head first!
Bigirish said:
Thanks for the responses guys! Much appreciated. Looking forward to diving in head first!
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Have fun! I took xHausx suggestion and went to chefs central and it will help all new developers. Last night, went to the android forum section in there..hit last page of it and went backwards reading page by page and in that night investment..I found resources that are invaluable. I recommend you do the same. One thing I should tell you many out developer wanna bees out there...the only thing that sperates the ones who are and not is the simple fact..if they had a problem, they did give up. This may sound simple..but when you get frustrated...it is easy to throw in the towel.
i understand this question has been asked in similar ways but programming is quite broad so hopefully i can get a personalised response to help zone in on my learning.
bit of information about me:
ive been using computers all my life whilst doing a little bit of code tweaking for a variety of things such as; games(hex editting) web coding and even a bit of excel macro work.
i currently have no plans or commitments as of now and wanted to use my free days to learn something new that ive been intrested in since i was about 12 years old.
im looking for a base or a starting point in learning coding... i understand jumping straight into coding apps and things is way out of my reach but i guess i have to start somewhere! Im very much intrested in customisation and the ability to customise as much as possible on phones, games and applications but i have no idea where to start...
ive been looking around and people recommend learning all sorts of languages from:
php/css moving up to java
straight to java
python
c#
c++
c then progressing into c++
but id rather get an answer from a community that is notoriously skilled in the developing area so much so that i feel this is the best place to ask!
if there is anyone who also wishes to help me personally in helping me along the way and giving me some advice then please pm me as id be so grateful to have someone there to help me.
thanks in advanced for your responses im looking forward to learning and hopefully starting something that will be a major part of my life from now on.
Well, since this is a mainly Aneroid development website, and if you are interested in aneroid, I would just jump straight into Java. That's what I did at least... to learn Java just google "Beginner's guide to Java" or something. Hope this helps.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using XDA
i was hoping for more input then just one person, i would like to know what others feel is the best way to go about it so i can build up an idea of peoples opinions to see what i feel is the best strategy of learning.
i appreciate your input ballarous =)
penfold1992 said:
i was hoping for more input then just one person, i would like to know what others feel is the best way to go about it so i can build up an idea of peoples opinions to see what i feel is the best strategy of learning.
i appreciate your input ballarous =)
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What are your development plans for? Do you plan on donning an apron and becoming a rom developer or do you plan on developing apps? You're setup will differ between the two but either way grab yourself a few good java books but understand it applies to Android differently than regular java. Learn the fundamentals of java, it's core rules etc but study googles open source api to see how you implement your phones system into regular java format. Here is a link to the Google source for developers (not source as in the source you sync to build Android, source as in how to implement phone apis into that source) http://developer.android.com/reference/packages.html
Here's some general app development guides that will broaden your understanding http://developer.android.com/resources/index.html
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
From my experience...
It probably does not matter where you start... I personally started with web based languages like VBS, and javascript, then jumped into c++... I completely avoided Java until recently.
VBS or Visual Basic is used for excel macros so you already have some experience under your belt. It should be pretty simple for you to apply that same understanding to the different syntax of Java.
Hello All,
Will try and keep this short: Am an old time developer, since 1979. I was self-taught, as a kid, never one class. The weakness there is that I never learned most of the terms.
So when learning new languages, it was harder since I didn’t have a reference point. i.e. may no longer be used, but I created “linked lists”, just never knew they were called that.
Anyway, I never got past using C and WinSDK. And I learned just enough Perl on the fly as I needed it to create some backend parts to some of my apps.
I am desperate to start a new project, preferring to do it on Android first. As hard as I looked for LOCAL developers with serious programming experience, and preferably some Voice SDK experience I failed. I tried Craigslist and Meet Up. Nothing.
So I need to do this MYSELF. Or at least start it and come up with the alpha-prototype on my own.
After all that explaining, what’s the BEST (and least expensive) means I can purchase to teach myself programming an Android device?
I always loved forums, we’re talking back when NEWSGROUPS were the way to go. Because out there was always someone who knew…and was willing to share their point of view.
Currently using a PC-Windows environment, so any IDEs in that arena would be preferred.
So any help, any direction would be so appreciated.
Many thanks ahead all,
Sergio
I would definitely recommend grabbing Android studio and looking through Androids developer docs. If you're familiar with java all you really need to know is the Android framework and how everything works together (lifecycles, passing data around, working with various sensors/hardware, etc).
Android studio is free so no cost to you there. If you're not familiar with java there are tons of good resources online
Sent from my XT1254
Hi!
I agree with @blackangus, i started programming for android with eclipse at that time and some tutorials i found online.
In my experience is a little bit frustrating at the beginning because is has some hard to understand concepts if you come from low level languages.
you can try to follow a basic lessons to start understanding the different parts like,
1) Views ( it cost me pretty much to understand how views and activities work)
2) Networking and async threads (restfull services calls and json manipulation)
3) Play services (push notifications, account registration and such)
this was the approach i took and it helped me a lot, i hope my humble guide helps you too.
5 years ago I got my intro to Android via Android App Inventor: http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/
Good intro to Android concepts but drawing pictures instead of writing code still can't produce professional apps.
So I dove into learning Android Java. Nice...
My background was in C ; I never quite figured out C++ and have heard since that Java is superior anyway, written for OO instead of adapted from C.
I still program plenty of C for Android NDK low level code.
Before C, I did various assembly/machine languages, including the first CPUs in the mid 1970's and in early 80's front panelled a simple OS into an old PDP-11/05 to use an Apple clone keyboard and a "TV Typewriter" type 6847 Video board I built...
Now I'm wondering about iOS Objective C. Much more money still it seems in iPhones/Pads.
I am a newbie too. My background is microcontroller programmer, so i use C very often. When i start learning android programming, i begin with learning java and eclipse first, after i got the OOP concept, i begin learn to use android API and Android Studio....when we start from low level language, learning Java is easier... Java basic first then android API....
I am a serious coder, usually working with enterprise applications at my job. In my experience, if you need to learn something new, it is better if we get help from some friends or professional trainers. Saves us a lot of time and trouble. If you want to learn the basics of OOP and are going to build something, I suggest you get help of a professional trainer. You will be clear about the subject matter easily and with your experience, you will achieve progress within no time.
Wow. I don't feel so bad now. I'm and old geek too. I'm looking at trying to develop a simple game for Android. My last coding was in 1988 using COBOL. I'm a System Analysist but most of my experience was in medical systems and Digital Radiography. I'm basically a College Freshman.
Thanks for the information.
Can we keep this thread open or create another for Q&A from you wiz kids?
A funny note: I was involved with Search and Rescue in 1979. We were a driving force to get SAT phone's going but our budget only allowed for 2 satellites that year. We tested with a fellow driving in California while talking to us in Milwaukee. We only had a 20 minute window , then had to wait till the next.flyover 3 hours later. We've come a long way. Let's keep the momentum going!