[DEV][REQUEST/SUGGESTION] Symlinks in Sammy JB Roms - Galaxy S II Android Development

Hi all,
So as everyone knows the vast majority of custom roms based on Sammy JB use preload and symlink to system/app. From reading most of the threads here I have noticed that there is not much consistency between different roms on what is symlinked and what is left in system/app. I have noticed this is making themers and modders lives difficult as they have to assume that the apks they want to install are in preload and symlink accordingly. If they arent this causes fc etc.
So...I have a proposition which I think will help the community as a whole but needs devs here to agree. Instead of splitting the apks between preload and system and then symlinking every single apk that is in preload (which leaves room for typos etc and missing apps) like this...
Code:
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/ApplicationsProvider.apk", "/system/app/ApplicationsProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/AutomationTest_JBUP.apk", "/system/app/AutomationTest_JBUP.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/BackupRestoreConfirmation.apk", "/system/app/BackupRestoreConfirmation.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/BadgeProvider.apk", "/system/app/BadgeProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/BasicLiveWallpapers.apk", "/system/app/BasicLiveWallpapers.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/BCService.apk", "/system/app/BCService.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/BluetoothAvrcp.apk", "/system/app/BluetoothAvrcp.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/BluetoothMap.apk", "/system/app/BluetoothMap.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/CapabilityManagerService.apk", "/system/app/CapabilityManagerService.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/CertInstaller.apk", "/system/app/CertInstaller.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/ChromeBookmarksSyncAdapter.apk", "/system/app/ChromeBookmarksSyncAdapter.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/ClipboardSaveService.apk", "/system/app/ClipboardSaveService.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/ClockPackage.apk", "/system/app/ClockPackage.apk");
t
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/CSC.apk", "/system/app/CSC.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/DataCreate_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk", "/system/app/DataCreate_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Days.apk", "/system/app/Days.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/DefaultContainerService.apk", "/system/app/DefaultContainerService.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Divx.apk", "/system/app/Divx.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/DrmProvider.apk", "/system/app/DrmProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/EdmSysScopeService.apk", "/system/app/EdmSysScopeService.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/EdmVpnServices.apk", "/system/app/EdmVpnServices.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/EnterprisePermissions.apk", "/system/app/EnterprisePermissions.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/FactoryTest_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk", "/system/app/FactoryTest_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/GmsCore.apk", "/system/app/GmsCore.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk", "/system/app/GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk", "/system/app/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/GoogleFeedback.apk", "/system/app/GoogleFeedback.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/GoogleLoginService.apk", "/system/app/GoogleLoginService.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/GooglePartnerSetup.apk", "/system/app/GooglePartnerSetup.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/GoogleServicesFramework.apk", "/system/app/GoogleServicesFramework.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/GoogleTTS.apk", "/system/app/GoogleTTS.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/GroupCast.apk", "/system/app/GroupCast.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/InputDevices.apk", "/system/app/InputDevices.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/InputEventApp_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk", "/system/app/InputEventApp_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/JobManager.apk", "/system/app/JobManager.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/KeyChain.apk", "/system/app/KeyChain.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Keystring_factory_JBUP.apk", "/system/app/Keystring_factory_JBUP.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Kobo.apk", "/system/app/Kobo.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/lcdtest_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk", "/system/app/lcdtest_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/LogsProvider.apk", "/system/app/LogsProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Microbes.apk", "/system/app/Microbes.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/minimode-res.apk", "/system/app/minimode-res.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/MusicFX.apk", "/system/app/MusicFX.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/MusicPlayer.apk", "/system/app/MusicPlayer.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/NetworkLocation.apk", "/system/app/NetworkLocation.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/OmaCP.apk", "/system/app/OmaCP.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/OmaDrmPopup.apk", "/system/app/OmaDrmPopup.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/PackageInstaller.apk", "/system/app/PackageInstaller.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/PanningTryActually.apk", "/system/app/PanningTryActually.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Phone_Util_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk", "/system/app/Phone_Util_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/PhoneErrService.apk", "/system/app/PhoneErrService.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Phonesky.apk", "/system/app/Phonesky.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/PopupuiReceiver.apk", "/system/app/PopupuiReceiver.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Preconfig.apk", "/system/app/Preconfig.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SamsungCamera.apk", "/system/app/SamsungCamera.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SamsungIME.apk", "/system/app/SamsungIME.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecBrowser.apk", "/system/app/SecBrowser.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecCalendar.apk", "/system/app/SecCalendar.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecCalendarProvider.apk", "/system/app/SecCalendarProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecCalculator2.apk", "/system/app/SecCalculator2.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecContacts.apk", "/system/app/SecContacts.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecContactsProvider.apk", "/system/app/SecContactsProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecDownloadProvider.apk", "/system/app/SecDownloadProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecDownloadProviderUi.apk", "/system/app/SecDownloadProviderUi.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecEmail.apk", "/system/app/SecEmail.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecExchange.apk", "/system/app/SecExchange.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecGallery2.apk", "/system/app/SecGallery2.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecLauncher2.apk", "/system/app/SecLauncher2.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecMediaProvider.apk", "/system/app/SecMediaProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecMms.apk", "/system/app/SecMms.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecNoteMyFiles.apk", "/system/app/SecNoteMyFiles.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecOmaDownloadProvider.apk", "/system/app/SecOmaDownloadProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecPhone.apk", "/system/app/SecPhone.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecSettings.apk", "/system/app/SecSettings.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecSettingsProvider.apk", "/system/app/SecSettingsProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecSetupWizard.apk", "/system/app/SecSetupWizard.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SecTelephonyProvider.apk", "/system/app/SecTelephonyProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SelfTestMode_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk", "/system/app/SelfTestMode_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/serviceModeApp_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk", "/system/app/serviceModeApp_U1_EUR_OPEN.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SetupWizard.apk", "/system/app/SetupWizard.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SharedStorageBackup.apk", "/system/app/SharedStorageBackup.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/shutdown_JBUP.apk", "/system/app/shutdown_JBUP.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SmartcardService.apk", "/system/app/SmartcardService.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SPlannerAppWidget.apk", "/system/app/SPlannerAppWidget.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Stk.apk", "/system/app/Stk.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Swype.apk", "/system/app/Swype.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/SystemUI.apk", "/system/app/SystemUI.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/talkback.apk", "/system/app/talkback.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/TwDVFSApp.apk", "/system/app/TwDVFSApp.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/UserDictionaryProvider.apk", "/system/app/UserDictionaryProvider.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/VideoPlayer.apk", "/system/app/VideoPlayer.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/voice_talk_U1.apk", "/system/app/voice_talk_U1.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/VoiceSearchStub.apk", "/system/app/VoiceSearchStub.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/VpnDialogs.apk", "/system/app/VpnDialogs.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/WAPPushManager.apk", "/system/app/WAPPushManager.apk");
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app/Zinio.apk", "/system/app/Zinio.apk");
....why not move ALL apks from system/app to preload, symlink the entire folder and then REMOVE system/app from your ROM zips. So system/app exists purely as a link. Like this...
Code:
symlink("/preload/symlink/system/app", "/system/app");
My ROM has been doing this since LSJ and personally I find it makes a lot more sense. :good:
Benefits:
Consistency between ROMS
One line in your script instead of a huge list.
All apks in one place meaning modders and themers know they can safely install stuff to preload without having to put symlinks in their scripts as the folder is already linked.
Users can move more easily between ROMS of the same base without FC because of left over stuff in other places.
Opinions?

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This did not work for me on LSD roms for some reason... I noticed that most devs started symlinking using a script called create_preload_symlink:
#!/system/bin/mksh
mount -o remount rw /system
cd /preload/symlink/system/app
# Can't create array with /sbin/sh, hence we use mksh
apk_list=( `ls | grep .apk` )
odex_list=( `ls | grep .odex` )
items=${apk_list[*]}" "${odex_list[*]}
for item in ${items[@]}
do
ln -s /preload/symlink/system/app/$item /system/app/$item
done
rm -f /system/app/placeholder
I didn't like the idea having apk files on preload partition, since this partition is not yet supported by CWM backup. So I modded the sysmlink script to have all system apk's symlinked to the data partition instead (/data/symlink/system/app). Now the entire JB rom fits on the system+data partitions and is fully cwm backupable... Of course, with this method, you cannot do a factory reset, as it will delete data partition including the symlinked sys files, resulting is a useless rom (bootloop). But why factory reset a good working rom?

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Odp: [DEV][REQUEST/SUGGESTION] Symlinks in Sammy JB Roms
Goldie this is awesome, and the funniest ( also the best) thing about that I had the same idea
Thanks!
TeamXD: Official Beta Tester
Phone: Samsung Galaxy S II
Mods: No MODS
Rom: Disaster ( Awesome!)
Kernel: Jeboo
Battery: Stock 1650
Send via: Tapatalk

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it's good idea but , i think EB10000 is right ,, symlink from data partition will be fine + compatible with CWM + we can make dualbooting easily
Here's new Idea making new ROM Dualboot-able with optimized updater-script (symlink from data partition) + OTA for its mods & Themes