So my current understanding is that a kernel is essentially the software that connects android with the hardware of the phone. Somewhat of a driver in terms of Windows?
Now I understand that different versions of Android will require different kernels even if the phone is the same (is this true?). For instance ICS for say... Phone X will have a kernel of X.Y.Z while Gingerbread for Phone X will be A.B.C.
Now would the kernel be the same for say gingerbread 2.3.3 and 2.3.5 and 2.3.7?
Also... Would it be possible to take a "shotgun" approach so to speak with the kernels for the Android phones?
For instance write one kernel that covers all android phones. The kernel file itself would be HUGE, but would it be possible or is there too much variation within the hardware. I know a lot of people are currently waiting for the HTC Desire HD's ICS rom to be released by HTC in order to get that ICS Kernel Source code.
The reason I ask is because having one universal kernel could potentially solve a lot of problems especially for the less popular phones. With this combined with the Easy Development Studio (being developed: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1446233) this could be pretty beneficial in my opinion at least.
I'm not a programmer and recently got into Android so that's why I'm asking. I just figured ask and learn more. So any opinions and even teachings that you have that you guys are willing to share with me would be awesome.
I think there is to many problems with writing kernel for all hardware... This is just linux kernel compiled for Android platform... Linux kernel is free but hardware specification not always free, there is already two different ways to write code for this hardware:
1. Write some code which would works on your device (but it does not mean that it would works on all devices which the same model).
2. Or you can go to hardware manufacturer and tell something like 'Hi guys, could you give me specifications of Phone X?' - (as i know it is commercical secret...maybe i am mistaken here)
Linux kernel (~Android kernel) is commonly support a lot of devices (include TV, Routers etc), but i think that enhance code of this kernel for each group device or for each manufacturer it is only one way to get stable and fast work with your gadget...
wlfpck said:
So my current understanding is that a kernel is essentially the software that connects android with the hardware of the phone. Somewhat of a driver in terms of Windows?
Now I understand that different versions of Android will require different kernels even if the phone is the same (is this true?). For instance ICS for say... Phone X will have a kernel of X.Y.Z while Gingerbread for Phone X will be A.B.C.
Now would the kernel be the same for say gingerbread 2.3.3 and 2.3.5 and 2.3.7?
Also... Would it be possible to take a "shotgun" approach so to speak with the kernels for the Android phones?
For instance write one kernel that covers all android phones. The kernel file itself would be HUGE, but would it be possible or is there too much variation within the hardware. I know a lot of people are currently waiting for the HTC Desire HD's ICS rom to be released by HTC in order to get that ICS Kernel Source code.
The reason I ask is because having one universal kernel could potentially solve a lot of problems especially for the less popular phones. With this combined with the Easy Development Studio (being developed: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1446233) this could be pretty beneficial in my opinion at least.
I'm not a programmer and recently got into Android so that's why I'm asking. I just figured ask and learn more. So any opinions and even teachings that you have that you guys are willing to share with me would be awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Now I understand that different versions of Android will require different kernels even if the phone is the same (is this true?). For instance ICS for say... Phone X will have a kernel of X.Y.Z while Gingerbread for Phone X will be A.B.C"
The kernel is basically a collection of device drivers and services which needs to be loaded to work as a mediator between the OS (ROM) and the phone hardware and it is off course device specific. And kernel does not depend on ROM rather ROM depends on kernel. The different kernel available for same device will have almost same structure excepts some specific drivers and services may be different . Same kernel may work with different roms if the rom is ported to or complied to work with that kernel. So even a GB kernel may work in ICS.
hm... I see.
I guess then that leads to another question of...
What about a universal kernel for each phone manufacturer? I believe that there is a way to find out the specific hardware within a phone. If that's the case, targeting just HTC or just Samsung, could allow for the shotgun approach to work since the overall target is smaller.
Wouldn't it also be possible to say to take a HTC Inspire 4G existing kernel and the rest of HTC's existing phones and consolidate the kernels?
I'm not a programmer so I'm just trying to learn but maybe I am over simplifying things.
@sos1g3: I see what you are saying as well but couldn't the hardware specifications be obtained from the existing kernels?
wlfpck said:
hm... I see.
I guess then that leads to another question of...
What about a universal kernel for each phone manufacturer? I believe that there is a way to find out the specific hardware within a phone. If that's the case, targeting just HTC or just Samsung, could allow for the shotgun approach to work since the overall target is smaller.
Wouldn't it also be possible to say to take a HTC Inspire 4G existing kernel and the rest of HTC's existing phones and consolidate the kernels?
I'm not a programmer so I'm just trying to learn but maybe I am over simplifying things.
@sos1g3: I see what you are saying as well but couldn't the hardware specifications be obtained from the existing kernels?
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Click to collapse
"Wouldn't it also be possible to say to take a HTC Inspire 4G existing kernel and the rest of HTC's existing phones and consolidate the kernels?"
Not exactly, it is only possible if the hardware is same . But off course a part of it will be same.
hardware specification can be obtained from a kernel source only . Not from the compiled kernel.
musarraf172 said:
"Wouldn't it also be possible to say to take a HTC Inspire 4G existing kernel and the rest of HTC's existing phones and consolidate the kernels?"
Not exactly, it is only possible if the hardware is same . But off course a part of it will be same.
hardware specification can be obtained from a kernel source only . Not from the compiled kernel.
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Click to collapse
If I am not mistaken, HTC and Samsung provide their source codes for their kernels.
"Not exactly, it is only possible if the hardware is same . But off course a part of it will be same. "
So then it's not possible to create a kernel that covers say a Snapdragon processor and a Nvidia Tegra 2?
I really wish the android world was more consolidated... of course that wouldn't do well for the phone manufacturers.
wlfpck said:
If I am not mistaken, HTC and Samsung provide their source codes for their kernels.
"Not exactly, it is only possible if the hardware is same . But off course a part of it will be same. "
So then it's not possible to create a kernel that covers say a Snapdragon processor and a Nvidia Tegra 2?
I really wish the android world was more consolidated... of course that wouldn't do well for the phone manufacturers.
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Click to collapse
Well , to make it more clear you should know that a full linux kernel ( desktp / server ) does have support for different hardware, peripherals, gpu etc, even for different cpu. Only limitation is that the processor architecture should be same i.e various x86 processor can be supported by a single kernel but a single kernel will not support both x86 , x64 or ppc , ARM architecture . (By the word architecture I mean the instruction sets on which they work). It is called a generic kernel.But for mobile devices the kernel is trimmed down to the specific set of hardwares and peripherals because of resource limitations. A full generic kernel will size will be much bigger approx 80 to 120 MB. But a kernel for mobile device is arround 5 to 6 MB. So make an universal kernel for all mobiles , the size will be bigger which won't fit in the current device setup. So theoretically we can write a kernel which will support both Snapdragon processor and Nvidia Tegra 2 as they both uses ARMv7 instruction set.
Everywhere I go I see guide for porting ROMs/recoveries/etc and they're all for MTK devices, and I don't mean to be a noob but I want to know why they are so different. I know they have a different chipset, but they all run android and should all correspond to the same rules. Could anyone experienced give me an overview of what the difference is between Qualcomm and Mediatek devices that makes it so much easier to build for Mediatek.
There is a difference at the GPL policy as I read somewhere... whereas quallcomm is open-source and mediatek isn't?
Also quallcomm is much further at Hardware level in comparison to Mediatek, In which Mediatek serves for a good low-cost replacements for infamous brands.
Also the energy consumption is less then Quallcomm's
But the difference for those 2 sorts, I couldn't say anymore then I told you .
Can anyone please make a custom rom for our SAMSUNG J200G? Even the Samsung J2005 has unofficial cyanogenmod.
I think we are abandoned.
The processor is Exynos 3475, any Exynos processor is difficult to make custom ROMs for. This can be mainly an issue with devices that are not that popular since it becomes difficult to develop and not many people use the phone. By the way, I was trying to look up the Samsung J2005 and I could not find the device, are you sure you spelled it right?
I know it just launched.But I just wanted to hear the opinions. OnePlus Nord 2 is pretty powerful phone, but it's a MediaTek Dimensity 1200. Normally OnePlus devices has great development support but as MediaTek device, do you think it will also have ROMs in the future?
Maybe, but we will have to wait till then.
I highly doubt. Don't keep your hopes too high. Look at the Nord CE 5G for a very recent example, in spite of having a Qualcomm proccy.
Oneplus has supposedly lost its charm after becoming Oppo.
Only hope lies for the 9T, if they can somehow figure out a way to keep the temperature/throttling low with the inherently shi*ty 888 and increase the battery life.
At least 1st thing , it should easy unlocking bootloader. (and has unbrick tool.)
Then let's hope if devs interesting this phone.
It's a bit early to suggest, but the chances of getting a custom rom with official support for Nord 2 is slim. MediaTek is the villain here. Developers cannot obtain the source code [not for free] for MediaTek chipset. Though enthusiasts may port other builds to this device for fun and experiment. Further development and official support is unlikely to happen. Either way let's hope for the best.
use fastboot flashing unlock to unlock the bootloader and wait for somebody to patch the boot.img. then lets root and wait for oneplus (hope!!!) to release the sources (though MTK has not been publishing, hope it changes)
It will probably not. I don't have a single example of MTK smartphones with custom roms. Tell me the contrary if it happened, I'm not an expert. Too bad.
mirakle said:
It will probably not. I don't have a single example of MTK smartphones with custom roms. Tell me the contrary if it happened, I'm not an expert. Too bad.
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Exactly, this should really detract companies from using their proccys but they still go to them for really cheap stuff. And people (((enthusiats))) that buy phones with MTK are really to blame. If people boycott these pathetic closed-ended devices, these manufacturers would be bound to skip such shady manufacturers or pay them extra for their source-code to be released.
I believe the sole reason MTK is cheaper because they don't reveal their source and saves them the cost on extra licensing and stuff. If they did, it might even be more expensive than Qualcomm. Although, recent Qualcomm proccys have been nice little portable electricity using inefficient frying pans, we could still say the future is bright with their market practices being sorted and waiting for the next-next gen, when they switch back to the good'ol TSMC fabrication. Samsung fabrication is really pathetic, everybody knows but they still stick to making processors, makes me sick sometimes.
[email protected] said:
I know it just launched.But I just wanted to hear the opinions. OnePlus Nord 2 is pretty powerful phone, but it's a MediaTek Dimensity 1200. Normally OnePlus devices has great development support but as MediaTek device, do you think it will also have ROMs in the future?
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Click to collapse
Well it depends.People have a misconception that mediatek doesn't support custom roms.But it's not entirely true.Take the case of redmi note 8 pro.It has more than 20 custom roms available and also good gcam support.In the initial stages it was struggling to get a custom rom,due to brick issues.Later developers figured out a way to unbrick the phone ,and now it's easy to unbrick if something goes wrong.
So what I'm saying is just wait for developers to pick this phone and if it becomes popular and if there's a way to unbrick for free ,then yeah surely custom rom developement will be there .
DREECOL said:
Well it depends.People have a misconception that mediatek doesn't support custom roms.But it's not entirely true.Take the case of redmi note 8 pro.It has more than 20 custom roms available and also good gcam support.In the initial stages it was struggling to get a custom rom,due to brick issues.Later developers figured out a way to unbrick the phone ,and now it's easy to unbrick if something goes wrong.
So what I'm saying is just wait for developers to pick this phone and if it becomes popular and if there's a way to unbrick for free ,then yeah surely custom rom developement will be there .
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Click to collapse
Nah! not going to happen. Sad but true fact. May be one or two lackluster half-baked ROMs here and there but it'll be foolhardy to expect quality stuff coming for this phone.
mirakle said:
It will probably not. I don't have a single example of MTK smartphones with custom roms. Tell me the contrary if it happened, I'm not an expert. Too bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it that diffult to verify what you say?
Here is your exemple :
Redmi Note 8 Pro ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Othe
Improve your Redmi Note 8 Pro's battery life, performance, and look by rooting it and installing a custom ROM, kernel, and more.
forum.xda-developers.com
Others exist too...
LeDiable said:
Exactly, this should really detract companies from using their proccys but they still go to them for really cheap stuff. And people (((enthusiats))) that buy phones with MTK are really to blame. If people boycott these pathetic closed-ended devices, these manufacturers would be bound to skip such shady manufacturers or pay them extra for their source-code to be released.
I believe the sole reason MTK is cheaper because they don't reveal their source and saves them the cost on extra licensing and stuff. If they did, it might even be more expensive than Qualcomm. Although, recent Qualcomm proccys have been nice little portable electricity using inefficient frying pans, we could still say the future is bright with their market practices being sorted and waiting for the next-next gen, when they switch back to the good'ol TSMC fabrication. Samsung fabrication is really pathetic, everybody knows but they still stick to making processors, makes me sick sometimes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"the future is bright with their market practices"...
Are you serious? Qualcomm were condemned many time due to anticompetitive behavior!
Most competitors leaves the market due to patents abuse (LTE, CDMA), not tiny ones : Intel, NVIDIA, Texas Instruments, Broadcom, ST-Microelectronics.
And people like you applause!
Your name is LeDiable...a tiny evil...your master is Qualcomm...by far!
Ask Oneplus is they dont have the sources you're asking for. They have!
Even a deeper access (Mediatek Open Resource Architecture) than the have with Snapdragon : as Qualcomm's Hexagon sources are closes.
Plumplum88 said:
Is it that diffult to verify what you say?
Here is your exemple :
Redmi Note 8 Pro ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Othe
Improve your Redmi Note 8 Pro's battery life, performance, and look by rooting it and installing a custom ROM, kernel, and more.
forum.xda-developers.com
Others exist too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right, my bad. I've only checked for a bunch of recent MTK phones I would have be interested in. And the Redmi Note 8 Pro wasn't one of them.
DREECOL said:
Well it depends.People have a misconception that mediatek doesn't support custom roms.But it's not entirely true.Take the case of redmi note 8 pro.It has more than 20 custom roms available and also good gcam support.In the initial stages it was struggling to get a custom rom,due to brick issues.Later developers figured out a way to unbrick the phone ,and now it's easy to unbrick if something goes wrong.
So what I'm saying is just wait for developers to pick this phone and if it becomes popular and if there's a way to unbrick for free ,then yeah surely custom rom developement will be there .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlock an OnePlus is very easy, even Nord 2 is no exception. Just enable OEM unlock in the developers settings, then reboot to BootLoader and use the command: fastboot flashing unlock.
OnePlus released Kernel Source for Nord 2
Happy News
Nord 2 Kernel
JvLTech said:
OnePlus released Kernel Source for Nord 2
Happy News
Nord 2 Kernel
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When should we expect custom roms for Nord 2?
Anuj7798 said:
When should we expect custom roms for Nord 2?
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Click to collapse
As soon as you build it.
I would wait on custom recovery, root access, other things first.
Last time I built LineageOS for a new device it was pretty straight forward, but without working TWRP and/or MSM tools I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to try flashing anything.
hopefully custom roms start flowing in the xda and telegram space
mlgmxyysd said:
Unlock an OnePlus is very easy, even Nord 2 is no exception. Just enable OEM unlock in the developers settings, then reboot to BootLoader and use the command: fastboot flashing unlock.
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Click to collapse
I don't have the Advanced Reboot option in developer settings, and when using hardware keys or adb to reboot to bootloader, I get a "the serial is not match, fastboot_unlock_verify ok" message on the screen.
Any ideas?
moisthat said:
I don't have the Advanced Reboot option in developer settings, and when using hardware keys or adb to reboot to bootloader, I get a "the serial is not match, fastboot_unlock_verify ok" message on the screen.
Any ideas?
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Click to collapse
this is normal.... fastboot works with this screen... be sure to have the right drivers installed