Database Users

[Q]How do I become self sufficient? Building Android ROMs

Since Android has graced our amazing HD2s, I have grown a strong interest in learning more about and experincing Linux.
Recent releases of Android for HD2, while good and getting better, seem to have gone backwards in some areas. I have spent countless hours experimenting, reading, etc. So now, I seek the assistance of the community; specifically that of the Android Chef's - for lack of a better term.
I am asking for a little guidance in how I may become self sufficient and build my own Android ROMs for our HD2s. I am hoping I can solve some of my own issues, and in turn provide my experiance and ROM - if it's up to snuff - back to the community here.
TL;DR
Would some kind soul point me to the location to Read, download applications, etc or provide some minor instruction on building my own Android ROM. I do not have an aversion to reading and learning on my own, I have just hit a road block as to the direction I should take.
Thank you in advance.
Hatefly.

You can use coffeeshop to make your own android build.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=738770

buzz killington said:
You can use coffeeshop to make your own android build.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=738770
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, Coffeeshop isn't working at the moment. I'm experimenting with something else. I basically am trying to create an android rom the normal way in hopes i'll pick something up from that.
Got my Ubuntu / Virtualbox running and just finished installation. Now to get the Java.jde and .bin working.
Whole thing makes my head spin. Trying to figure out how to get our Kernal involved in the whole thing. I'm pretty sure i got the module thing "kinda" figured out.

Nothing still?
Makes me think these builds magically appeared out of nowhere

I like Linux, but it really depends on what your gonna use it for. I don't have it on my comp as a daily driver but its good if you like to tinker with.
As far as android, is there a kitchen for it? I had a kitchen for my HC Vouge and it was nice..just point and click. I just got my HD2 today and I love it.
Id really like to dive into dev for the Hd2 as far as themes and such go, but general dev,ill leave that for the pros.lol
sent from my backup

smurfgod said:
I like Linux, but it really depends on what your gonna use it for. I don't have it on my comp as a daily driver but its good if you like to tinker with.
As far as android, is there a kitchen for it? I had a kitchen for my HC Vouge and it was nice..just point and click. I just got my HD2 today and I love it.
Id really like to dive into dev for the Hd2 as far as themes and such go, but general dev,ill leave that for the pros.lol
sent from my backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really sure how to theme with the android builds on the HD2 quite yet.
And yes, there are a couple kitchens for Android. They say they are not compatable with our HD2, but that has not stopped me from tinkering around with them and trying to learn as much as possible.
Trying to figure out how to actually build my own bootable Android ROM, problem is there is little to know info on how the few people who offer their ROMs actually performed this feat. if there is, I sure as hell have not found it.
I've spent 7+ hours reading and searching today alone. Not counting the last couple weeks.
As it looks like no one is really willing to offer me any help - must be an exclusive club or something - I'm prying I stumble upon a way to make it work.
/sigh... back to Ubuntu I go...

Hi friend, I do just want build my own rom for my hd2.
Unlike u, I even dont know how to start.
If u got any idea of cooking your own Rom, would you assist me at the time.
Dont take this Silly.
Today a new HTC ACE dump file has been released.

shree.cse said:
Hi friend, I do just want build my own rom for my hd2.
Unlike u, I even dont know how to start.
If u got any idea of cooking your own Rom, would you assist me at the time.
Dont take this Silly.
Today a new HTC ACE dump file has been released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sup Shree,
Once I figure it out, or someone gives me a little help with it, i'll let you know. So far I have created two custom ROMs, but they only work for native android devices as far as I know.
I'm confused with the whole file structure and how to integrate our custom kernels and modules into the ROM so we can actually use our hardware.
Oh, and I got coffeeshop to work. Had a problem where ./start.sh wouldn't run from terminal. I got it to run another way though. Now, I'm left with a System.ex2 file I'm not sure what to do with yet, lol.

Some links that may help you get started:
http://htc-linux.org/wiki/index.php?title=HaRET/Documentation
http://htc-linux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Rootfs/Userfriendly
http://htc-linux.org/wiki/index.php?title=QuickDeveloperStartGuide
NOTE: Not that I've gone to the trouble of building my own ROM... yet.

[Q] the ultimate android build? not asking which is the best..

ok so we are all aware of all the various android builds out there for different phones. some with sense, some stock. all the chefs have their own basic formula for the perfect rom when they try to cook them for us. now most builds we apply to our phones are mod's of builds for other phones. After working with so many builds and liking certain features of each, but only available to each, i found myself asking the following question.
Companies like htc, etc. are assigned to build a certain phone with a certain android build with certain features activated/deactivated (ex. some builds have tethering, but tmobile said to cut tethering option out of g2. or some builds have a 2g/3g on off option where as others don't) this must mean that there is a general android build they start with that has all features and they just decide to keep/omit things they want or things carriers don't want. (or add some version of sense ui to it or touchwiz). My question is, is there a general ultimate android build that is available that has every feature there? i'm not a developer so i've never cooked a rom, but it would be awesome to have one build with everything and a simple way for users to decide which options they want or to omit. i know it sounds simple in theory and will never be that easy. but it would be awesome to have one general build with all options and can choose which ones i want to use or not to use vs. a developer selecting them for me.
this is a major problem with many winmo builds i've worked with compared to android builds, but its still something that bugs me when i try a rom and say damn i wish there was a 2g/3g on off in the network options vs having to dig for gsm/wcdma options. like i said in theory it sound easy and i'm sure its not, thats why i give all the chefs credit. but just throwing it out there in case something were to exist like that. thanks

I think I understand what you mean.
I've played with the Android SDK and the BASE 2.2 (what we know as Froyo) has all you mention (tethering etc), but looks kinda bland, this may be that I'm now so used to Sense and it's niceties that anything less than Sense to me just looks wrong.
If you want to see Android as Google intended for us all to use just download the SDK and start a 2.2 session with no modifications and you'll see the differences that carriers and the cooks here do, it's amazing work.
Also, almost all cooks here in XDA will try and give you access to everything the phone itself can do, that's part of the fun of running a rooted OS.

thanks for the tip about trying out the sdk Reno, i'm gonna check it out this weekend. Don't get me wrong, i love all the fun of flashing and its an addiction since 2007 on my HTC 8525/G1/HD2 lol. and i give mad props to all the chefs, god knows if i started messing with code, my phone would be a brick an hour later lol. Android chefs are really good and don't tweak much like winmo chefs do at times which i like. so many builds for winmo you'll find are scraped down to bare minimum because the chefs wanted a bare rom that gave u the "most space and fastest speed" which all went to hell once u install crap you want on it anyway, but half of the features and options have been deleted! thank God android chefs are good with keeping things there.
woohoo sdk fun friday night! will i become a chef? do chefs need to wear the silly hat?

I'll be perfectly blunt you'll need more than just the SDK to get a build made. I only downloaded it out of pure curiosity. You'll hopefully see in the attachments exactly what default Froyo looks like and realise even more what a godsend these guys here are.
I would honestly love to make my own build (more for my own fun and use than for general consumption) but I realise after many hours of reading and research that it's ridiculously hard work and these guys deserve every penny we can afford to donate for their toil.
Going back to the original point though: I think to create one overarching build that upon install you could pick: stock/sense/launcherpro or whatever other flavour there is available out there would actually be impossible. The look of the build is so deeply embedded in the build itself and requires so many different parts of the operating system itself to be changed you would need several copies of each file with the different variations for each look/style you'd end up with HUGE download sizes and it would be more difficult to keep up with when there is an update.
As things stand now, I know I could never drop my Sense builds, I love hastarins kernel tree, and I have my favourite small group of cooks that I follow, and that helps me limit what builds I download and test. Having a couple of small spare memory cards helps and only cost me £20 or so to give me that choice.

Reno i feel that you are correct. i couldn't resist and went to download the SDK after replying to your post. its still downloading a bunch of things and as i read the android developer page i'm enticed to hit the cancel button! I think i'll just go back to picturing the chefs as the magicians and let them entertain, instead of being the guy who tries to figure out all the tricks lol.

[Q] Recomended Android Ports For Telstra HD2 On AT&T

Which Android Rom would you recomend for my Telstra HD2 purchased from On The Go Solutions that will work with AT&T? I currenlty have a Nexus One build without Sense on my phone, but was wondering if this newer build MCCM SE 1.6 (HTC SENSE) Android 2.2.1 would work. If not, could someone recomend a better established well functionining rom with HTC Sense that I could use? If there are any roms that would allow me root access that'd be awesome too.

Not to be a jerk or anything but you jr members should pay attention this kinds of threads will get deleted by the mods for the question you ask is just an opinion and it can offend developers

Mate I know we all have to start somewhere and thats why we come to XDA, use the threads to search lots of devs put in alot of there own time into creating a great environment to further our devices ... if you want a great port use coredriod V_08 great battery and function if not search for one you like it doesnt take long to get them working.

A general discussion about an idea that makes perfect sense...

Now, I appreciate everything that these devs have had to offer. I've tried different Custom Roms (With Core Cell 3 being the most stable I've experienced, outside of the annoying Opera Mamory bug)...Android builds...and all that great efforts you guys Put forth.
I look at all these threads and Roms and see the same thing over and over...bugs...bugs....and more bugs...
The most stable Windows Rom I've truly experience is the stock one...lol...not being a smart a$$ at all. Everything just works. Take a registry editor to it and it's provided the most stable platform with Core Cell 3 a hair away from it.
Now, with Android, I see constant bug reports. I mean, people seem to have a great appreciation for the builds and love them, but it always follows up with a major bug...or even worse...lots of little bugs.
What I don't understand is why don't all you devs get together and build the "XDA" Custom Rom or "XDA" Android build that gets undiveded attention and all resources so to make it truly BUG free? Once that has been accomplished...then we can go ahead and try these test builds and play with them...
Now, I say this with a great deal of respect, having worked with developers before I know how fragile the ego's can be
It's also my experience with those same developers that taught me complete focus of resources surfaced the best result.
I mean, an effort like that is something I would pay...eeerrrrr....donate too.
Android seems to be the future for the HD2, at least I think so...some may have a different opinion...that's cool. But as much as I actually like WinMo 6.5...and WinMO 7 showing signs of being a demo at best on the HD2, Android has a future.
I think it would be a great idea for you guys to focus on one thing at a time until it's at a state you can consider it marketable...not that I'm saying that's what you should do...sell things and all.
I would even think it would be cool to take WinMo 6.5 and change it into something completely different and better than what Microsoft settled for...I always promote making Big Brother look silly with a superior view of their own product.
My point is...no matter what platform or approach...get together on it...I bet the result would be far more productive.
I fear though that this idea...no matter how much sense it makes...will not come to fruition...WHAT THE DEUCE!
Looking forward to your thoughts.

well i came up with this idea http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=902534 and would need a thew devs to work on it,about having our own unoficiall Android Rom,Something wich we can say is our own HD2 rom not direct ports if you know were im coming from and pretty much bug free and stable and fast.i know a thew devs came together to create nand so why not do it to create a rom

Thew?
Sent from my HD2 using XDA App

Hah, bug free... That's an interesting idea. The last bug free thing I saw was my Nokia 3210. Since then even my microwave ovens get bugs.

The devs do work together for the most part... different problems get solved by different devs, and they credit each other. I think its amazing what they've accomplished. You should be more than happy with how well we have a port working. I never thought it would get as good as it has, especially as quick as it has. Just look at the Raphael or blackstone... they've been working on ports for those devices for years and are nowhere close to where we are, and might never be.
The devs are doing what they can. This is their hobby... they're gonna work on what interests them. You can't expect them to all work on what you want them to... they would lose interest and we wouldn't have so much innovation. Plus a little competition can bring the best out of a person.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

Well most of the bugs in Android are at the kernel level, and there is already a group of developers working on that same piece of software together.
You also have to keep in mind, as other users in this thread have already said, that no software will be without bugs.

I guess...I just know with absolute confidence this idea will work best. Nonetheless, I understand. Also, it's not what I want?...its about completing a task these forums have already put in motion...just at a more effective manor.

i want sense build base on desire hd or z
its will be lite enuf to run from RAM and boot fast
the Data.img will be backed up in the nand but will work from SD card for better performance
that's what i think is perfect to me
RAM gives boot time and less battery drain
data.img on nand and sd card is for better iops and for backuping ur info fast with CWM
u can remove anything u dont use cos it wont be in the RAM
all most important things like email / messages / people browser will run from RAM to get the speed-est performance

As has been stated, aren't most the bugs pretty common to all builds in one way or another therefore indicating that the problem is at the programming level rather than the rom developer level.
IMHO find one you're happy with and take the bugs with a pinch of salt - the HD2 is still one of the most exciting handsets about and to have the ability to experiment with all this thanks to the ROM guys and the tools developers on here is just blooming fantastic!
Stop moaning and appreciate what we have here!

Personally, I think this is a bad idea.
I'm very happy to have multiple developers all working on different projects and supplying us with different ROMs. For example, I hate HTC Sense and prefer stock Android, but lots of people disagree with that and think Sense builds are superior.
If all the devs worked on only 1 ROM then that's all we'd have. 1 ROM. My phone would be the same as yours, and yours would be the same as every other person on the forum. That would be pretty darn boring! If you ask me, more choice is better.
"If everybody looked the same, we'd get tired of looking at each other."

I never said stop working on different flavors of Roms. Just focus on an XDA Rom. Once refined, let the flavors flow...right?

You know, I approach this topic from a respective and open discussion approach with an expressed curiosity at most and the best you can do is confuse it for moaning?
It's guys like you that start all the flaming, when you have people who are simply exchanging ideas.
There's always a few out of the bunch that can't resist being abrasive aka a$$holes while others are just chatting.
AGxM said:
As has been stated, aren't most the bugs pretty common to all builds in one way or another therefore indicating that the problem is at the programming level rather than the rom developer level.
IMHO find one you're happy with and take the bugs with a pinch of salt - the HD2 is still one of the most exciting handsets about and to have the ability to experiment with all this thanks to the ROM guys and the tools developers on here is just blooming fantastic!
Stop moaning and appreciate what we have here!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

One ROM One Source with Many tweaks

Hi everyone please before anyone throw curses at me, it is only a request to make things more organize at least for noobs like me
i have entered the world of andorid not so much as a month ago with galaxy S2 i was amazed with the possibilities of this software and how much customization can go with it but all this come with cost which is mess, lost and confusion
i mean there is like 10 or more roms for S2 alone as we can see and it just been a month only what will happen after plus we are always asking which is the best rom what is the best theme etc
that is why i suggest the following:
one custom rom which belong to XDA to name as please or XDA rom since XDA the biggest android forum and all developers can work on it to tweak it as they please and submit to the ppl in charge of it and update frequently (example villin rom with its tweaks app which need some work in organizing, i thank him for his work)
in this rom there will be apps like that but will be all in the offical app for tweaks( like cydia in the iphone OS) inside it everything from themes to addons
i know i might not clear but what am saying lets try to have One rom and in it all the tweaks possible since in the end of what am seeing all ROMs have minor difference(someone can shot me down if am wrong and i say sorry)
waiting for your thoughs follow XDA members

A few quick thoughts here. You can never please everyone because people want different things out of a rom and the result can be that as things go forward you end up pleasing no one by trying to be all things to all people. Also right now the roms are fairly similar because the phone is so new but that will change going down the road as things settle in and they will become more divergent. While it seems chaotic now this is not a bad thing in that you likely will find a chef who does work that you will prefer. Once CM comes to fruition you will see in some respects what you are talking about as many people will theme directly for it and so also with mods.

There are so many more devices, roms and people. Some roms make the whole operating system look completely different. (miui)
You want everything easily in one place. I actually don't. If you want one rom, pick one and stay with it. Simple right?
I like to compare different roms, certain ones have better features but a long with that it brings worse battery life. So I like weighing the differences.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy SII with XDA Premium

Stick to the stock ROM for now, it's pretty balanced, till a few more months and Dev's get the hang of this new Phone.

Problem with the original only one rom . Who do you choose for the one rom do you ban the other devs .Ban Chainfire ban others like him who have developed individual bits that come together to make a whole .
No Android is independent custom at will rather than the dictate of one person (Hi Steve ).
Noobs need to accept that its a learning curve they have to learn how to read first follow instructions second browse the posts third and search fourth .
Simply put one rom defeats the whole point of XDA and Open Source .
jje

well thanks guys about the reply but i guess the idea far from coming to android or maybe because i am new, i cannot see the picture you guys are seeing since i came from iphone which used to have one version(jailbreak firmware) with cydia(the home of all great thing for iphone) and thought it is possible in android but it seems not so i just have to do what most have said stick to one rom and be updated with it
in the end i just wanted to share my thoughts and it has been nice reading your thoughts on the matter
stay alive

MoeBD said:
well thanks guys about the reply but i guess the idea far from coming to android or maybe because i am new, i cannot see the picture you guys are seeing since i came from iphone which used to have one version(jailbreak firmware) with cydia(the home of all great thing for iphone) and thought it is possible in android but it seems not so i just have to do what most have said stick to one rom and be updated with it
in the end i just wanted to share my thoughts and it has been nice reading your thoughts on the matter
stay alive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But thats the whole difference ONE = IPhone
What you want = Android .
What if that one rom is far behind rather than advanced = no choice .
If i had to go down the IPhone one rom walled garden do as you are told path i would not even contemplate a Smartphone .I want choice simple as that .
One rom might as well stick with the basic Google rom .
jje

Ok, in general these are the roms out here or yet to come:
- Android with Touchwhizz
- Stock android
- MIUI
- Cyanogenmod
- Stock android with Cyanogenmod tweaks etc
- Possibly a Sense rom.
These are 6 different android variants already. How can you put them in one rom? That is not possible. I like the stock android, you like touchwhizz etc.
The main advantage is that you can switch roms easily and flash the rom that suits you.
I agree that in the beginning you can't see the whole picture, but you will in time. Like JJEgan says it's a learning curve, although a lot of new people don't seem to realize that.