I'd like to create a TWRP flashable ZIP of my phone meant for public release so I'd like to hide any information specific to my phone or self. As far as not installing a bunch of apps or backing up data that's obvious but what I'm unsure about is the process of creating a ZIP file instead of those folders that TWRP creates. How would I go about doing that?
This is basically what I'd like to do:
Backup my own stuff
Flash stock ROM and make customizations to the interface, possible minor debloat, installation of a few useful things, etc...
Release a flashable ZIP -- essentially just like flashing a custom ROM except it's just the stock ROM with customizations like ad blocking and interface changes, etc...
The idea is similar to @ChazzMatt posting images of his settings but involves more things and in a prepared format for flashing. It's sort of like a "lazy" version of creating a ROM.. where you're just modifying some things and doing all the work that would normally take a lot of discovery and time to do then releasing that.
Related
If we have a base rom even from a backup.
Couldn't we edit simple things in the rom. Like host files for blocking adds. Add the changes that the super charger script makes. Disable/remove alot of blur like we do now with titanium backup. Longer wifi scan times. ect.
How would you get the base rom and how do you edit the files contained in the rom. I'm used to linux I run it at the house. If its like editing cfg files and what not. I might be able to make my own rom for myself.
Figured out you can open apk files easily with winrar.
And if all else fails sbf here i come
infinity8x3 said:
If we have a base rom even from a backup.
Couldn't we edit simple things in the rom. Like host files for blocking adds. Add the changes that the super charger script makes. Disable/remove alot of blur like we do now with titanium backup. Longer wifi scan times. ect.
How would you get the base rom and how do you edit the files contained in the rom. I'm used to linux I run it at the house. If its like editing cfg files and what not. I might be able to make my own rom for myself.
And if all else fails sbf here i come
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't wait to see what you come up with... I'll test it.
You don't need a custom rom in order to block ads. There its a hosts file floating around that does that in one of the X2's subforum.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
or get ad free from the market...and guess what? it's free! >.>
It's true that those small changes don't require a custom rom but I think tinkering with the idea and trying to put something together would be a great learning experience and could lead to the first "custom rom".
Questions should be posted in the general forum. I will recommend you visit the chef central forums where they have all the tools and possible many answers for rom building.
Cheers and thread moved.
If I am running a deodex rom, that is sense 3.0, can I flash customizations such as a transparent Rosie or custom lock screen from a diffrent deodex rom?
Should be able to without a problem unless its states on the mod thread its only compatible with certain roms. But always make a nand before flashing any mods for a safety net incase anything does get mixed up or just to revert if you wanted to.
Locked & Loaded
" Shooter on Deck "
Ilovemywife said:
If I am running a deodex rom, that is sense 3.0, can I flash customizations such as a transparent Rosie or custom lock screen from a diffrent deodex rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the suggestions in the first post reply are great.
in addition here are a few thoughts which came to mind: different mods are done on different files in the android system. two mods might change the same file or two mods might change different files. if the two mods both change the same file, swapping that file in and out means you'll only get one or the other version of it modded but might have to find a version of that file with both mods performed on it.
ideal beginner solution would be to at least open up the .zip file which contains the mod and check with file is being replaced on your system. it'll give you a good starting point to gauge from as the more mods you flash the more you'll see which files are being modified.
ideal advanced solution would be to understand how the file was modified and perform the modification yourself .. this takes more time and labor but leads to the greatest control over your system. if you're interested in this route, SteelH has a great list of [HOW-TO] guides in the EVO 3D themes & apps board which detail out the exact place to change code in order to accomplish the mod.
hope that helps!
Ive Noticed that the DX2 Has number of atrix ports and a couple of roms.. Any how i would love some more support than CM7 for the photon. I know we only have a handful of wonderful devs for the photon and they can only concentrate on so much at once.
I am wanting really bad to contribute..Can some one show me where to brush up on my skills I am wanting to attempt to Dev. I know IT HAS BEEN ASKED i just want to go to the right places...Just seems like there is not enough interest in the photon in general.. I have all the free time in the world right now...
Id like to thank all the wonderful Devs in the photon forum and for making CM7 boot!! Some good ISH!! i cant wait!!
If you want to make a custom, stock-based ROM, it is fairly easy. A number of us on the forums just think that it is not very necessary to have so many ROMs when there is little-to-no changes between them.
Anyhow, the basic gist is like this:
Find some app/theme you want to include into a ROM. Extract the ROM (.zip), and then place those files into their respective folders. Generally, themes are in framework-res.apk files and go in /system/framework. Apps usually go into /system/app. Keep in mind if you want to port a theme, you will have to resize the images and rename them (usually), which involved extracting the .apk, modifying the necessary files, and then pushing them back into an unextracted copy of the .apk (to deal with signing issues). When you are done with your modifications to the ROM, highlight/select all of the folders and files (usually META-INF, system, boot.img), and compress them into a zip archive. Bam, new ROM made.
mrinehart93 said:
If you want to make a custom, stock-based ROM, it is fairly easy. A number of us on the forums just think that it is not very necessary to have so many ROMs when there is little-to-no changes between them.
Anyhow, the basic gist is like this:
Find some app/theme you want to include into a ROM. Extract the ROM (.zip), and then place those files into their respective folders. Generally, themes are in framework-res.apk files and go in /system/framework. Apps usually go into /system/app. Keep in mind if you want to port a theme, you will have to resize the images and rename them (usually), which involved extracting the .apk, modifying the necessary files, and then pushing them back into an unextracted copy of the .apk (to deal with signing issues). When you are done with your modifications to the ROM, highlight/select all of the folders and files (usually META-INF, system, boot.img), and compress them into a zip archive. Bam, new ROM made.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks BRO!!!! And Thank you for all your hours and dedication you have put fourth with school and all!! I would not of held on to my Photon If it weren't for you!! Honestly!!!
If you guys want I could upload my recent creation.
Its yays deodexed rom with the alien theme embedded in. I can't seem to get the blur launcher to work though and I could slim it down. Remove ringtones notifications and apps if ya'll want...its nothing special just themed no special tweaks.
Don't think you can add tweeks without unlocking the BL...
AJC9000 said:
If you guys want I could upload my recent creation.
Its yays deodexed rom with the alien theme embedded in. I can't seem to get the blur launcher to work though and I could slim it down. Remove ringtones notifications and apps if ya'll want...its nothing special just themed no special tweaks.
Don't think you can add tweeks without unlocking the BL...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be awesome!!!! Im working on something NOw!! I would like to use what u created!!
Its pretty much yays rom + kenneths theme and a working settings apk lol
You want it stripped down as possible? I suck at making update zips for gapps and such but I can strip it and you can command mount the things you want.
and applications? not everything is shareable I try to make a build did not work well but gets stuck on the logo of motorola
what are you adding and taking away?
Anyone think it's possible to implement the manager system from nexus mod manager or something similar to a recovery. For example, have it keep track of the mods you install and the files it changes and put an option to remove it where it removes the files that were editing and replaces them with the files that were there prior to installing the file? If it help nexus mod manager is open source allowing to view the source code and I believe all that is handled under the NexusClient under ModManagement. If someone can implement this it will make it a lot easier to manage the mods we install on top of the roms since the only way to remove mods currently is making a backup prior to flashing the mod or by dirt flashing the Rom on top and reinstalling other mods.
Here's a link to the sourcehttp://goo.gl/PFnqI0
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
luigi311 said:
Anyone think it's possible to implement the manager system from nexus mod manager or something similar to a recovery. For example, have it keep track of the mods you install and the files it changes and put an option to remove it where it removes the files that were editing and replaces them with the files that were there prior to installing the file? If it help nexus mod manager is open source allowing to view the source code and I believe all that is handled under the NexusClient under ModManagement. If someone can implement this it will make it a lot easier to manage the mods we install on top of the roms since the only way to remove mods currently is making a backup prior to flashing the mod or by dirt flashing the Rom on top and reinstalling other mods.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you are simply stating having a program that automate a backup of the files yyou change? So instead of having to do it manually, as soon as you change something it makes a backup..
lacoursiere18 said:
So you are simply stating having a program that automate a backup of the files yyou change? So instead of having to do it manually, as soon as you change something it makes a backup..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Similar. The way I see this working is to create a class that adds this support and have it create a temp file of sorts with everything that was editing and a list of files that were created and allowing it to backup the files that were replace so it can put them back when u decide to remove the mod and delete the extra files that were created. Doing this would make it easier for developers to implement this into the scripts used to install the mods and possible having installations split between roms and mods, having the developers define it in the script and if undefined have it follow the default install which should be roms. Defining roms and mods could possibly be done through if-else statements such as adding InstallAsMod or InstallAsRom on the first line of a script and on the recovery have it check if it says InstallAsMod or InstallAsRom on the first line and if neither have it follow the InstallAsRom code which could be an exact copy of the way the recovery currently works. Though those are just my thoughts with my very basic java knowledge, maybe someone else with more insight can give a better method. Also having something like a extra menu in the recovery that displays the installed mods and having the uninstall/removal process there. The problem I see with this would be with rom updates, they will make changes to the files causing issues with the uninstall option if the files where changed through the rom update.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
In the interest of learning the ins and outs of Android firmware modding I wanted to start small with changing icons, perhaps making basic theme changes, adding new buttons/actions etc. To what degree can changes be made to the currently installed ROM before an entire reflash is required? Can such changes be made simply through the file system using a shell by replacing binaries, etc? Or, is it necessary always to download a particular Android version from Google and recompile/reflash to your device after implementing the desired changes?
Perhaps this is too general of a question.
sherrellbc said:
To what degree can changes be made to the currently installed ROM before an entire reflash is required? Can such changes be made simply through the file system using a shell by replacing binaries, etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you don't make a mistake that causes your device to no longer boot, a full reflash is never required if you just modify single files. Make sure you know how to recover from a non-booting Android system before you start modding.