[Q] How to become a rom developer? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Howdy everyone!
After using android for a few years (since 2011) and experimenting with a lot of roms and kernels, I am now looking to take the next step: to become a rom/kernel developer!
My problem is, I have no programming or developing experience, AND I don't know any programming language.So I am a complete beginner at that stage.
Therefore I ask you guys, where do I start my journey to become a rom/kernel devloper?
Many thanks for all help!

Norside said:
Howdy everyone!
After using android for a few years (since 2011) and experimenting with a lot of roms and kernels, I am now looking to take the next step: to become a rom/kernel developer!
My problem is, I have no programming or developing experience, AND I don't know any programming language.So I am a complete beginner at that stage.
Therefore I ask you guys, where do I start my journey to become a rom/kernel devloper?
Many thanks for all help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good plan... but you are asking in the wrong place. XDA has a number of forums catering for ROM cooking and development. These are Android specific rather than phone specific and therefore far more appropriate than this forum.
Suggest you start here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/ and have a look through the many and varied areas that will help you.

LenAsh said:
Good plan... but you are asking in the wrong place. XDA has a number of forums catering for ROM cooking and development. These are Android specific rather than phone specific and therefore far more appropriate than this forum.
Suggest you start here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/ and have a look through the many and varied areas that will help you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I was debating where to post it..is it possible for a moderator like @Judge Joseph Dredd to move this thread to android q a help and troubleshooting?
Just to avoid another thread about the same...:angel:

Norside said:
Howdy everyone!
After using android for a few years (since 2011) and experimenting with a lot of roms and kernels, I am now looking to take the next step: to become a rom/kernel developer!
My problem is, I have no programming or developing experience, AND I don't know any programming language.So I am a complete beginner at that stage.
Therefore I ask you guys, where do I start my journey to become a rom/kernel devloper?
Many thanks for all help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install the Android sdk, ADB, Java\Eclipse, and get prepared for lots of reading Set up decompiling and deodexing programs/environments (ApkMultiTool, Tickle My Android, etc) Search in Android General and other subforums, there is a TON of stuff to learn on this site! Entire sections devoted to teaching this kind of thing.

AyDee said:
Install the Android sdk, ADB, Java\Eclipse, and get prepared for lots of reading Set up decompiling and deodexing programs/environments (ApkMultiTool, Tickle My Android, etc) Search in Android General and other subforums, there is a TON of stuff to learn on this site! Entire sections devoted to teaching this kind of thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I have started with the reading..a lot to learn

Related

[Q] Request to mods...

Sadly enough there is much chat in threads.
Even a comparison about the Arc and X10 in a thread about a mod.
Would it be possible to just remove posts that are really off-topic?
15 pages for a thread with <10 really on-topic posts
that's an awful lot of time spent sifting through threads and threads full of crap...
I completely agree. Please somebody do something about this. Start giving out bans. The ratio of crap to actual development talk is at least 10-1. It seriously hinders the ability of the forum to facilitate collaboration on the projects being done.
ralphodog said:
I completely agree. Please somebody do something about this. Start giving out bans. The ratio of crap to actual development talk is at least 10-1. It seriously hinders the ability of the forum to facilitate collaboration on the projects being done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i've been on xda for quite some time, and i will admit that the x10 forums are the biggest cluster of useless banter, repetitive topics/questions and un-uniformed threads.
however, this is not the mods faults. there are posts for rules, and outlines for thread title structures and thread behavior. however, it seems that a lot of the x10 owners have a hard time following these rules and guidelines.
i can't imagine how anyone new to the game could come here and follow anything as far as learning how to mod their x10.
Just a hint: This might be more effective if it was in the correct forum.
Hard to ***** when you're part of the problem...
kxhawkins said:
Just a hint: This might be more effective if it was in the correct forum.
Hard to ***** when you're part of the problem...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 Especially since the same threads are just as full of these type posts and rude people who take the time and space to ***** rather than just answering someone's question or simply moving on.
wait a second...arent you doing that right now?
Let's just end it here,
no *****ing!
we're all nice people
------------------------------------END OF THREAD----------------------------------
Hi,
I like stuff.
Dienda has a message for ya
Sent from my X10i using XDA App
william0410 said:
wait a second...arent you doing that right now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. I am just trying to make the point that there is a lot of both going on. (It seems you got my point...it's borderline hypocrisy)
I find myself in the middle. The only time I get frustrated is when I'm searching for an answer or it's a guide or tutorial. It boils down to time savings.
ffortissimo said:
Sadly enough there is much chat in threads.
Even a comparison about the Arc and X10 in a thread about a mod.
Would it be possible to just remove posts that are really off-topic?
15 pages for a thread with <10 really on-topic posts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please report the threads or posts .
As you may know we are not 24/7 on xda and doing this will help a lot.
I'll move this thread since it's in the wrong section
[/QUOTE ]
i can't imagine how anyone new to the game could come here and follow anything as far as learning how to mod their x10.[/QUOTE]
I must count myself as someone who may not be following all the rules. After following the forums for 6 months and having rooted, xrecovery, tweaked build.prop as well as flashing and bricking two phones, I am finding it hard to move onto a newer rom.
The search function on XDA seems to rely mostly on tags. I get better results trying Google. Only 1 of 5 XDA searches even returns any results at all and often not confined to the subforums I wanted. When posting I do check the suggestions that the system shows as related but again it is inaccurate.
Finally the devs have moved to a short form install which has more steps than in the past. At first we had all inclusive roms which updated baseband and 'firmware'. Now we have many that are parts; baseband and firmware can be independent installs. Dual touch can be separated or not. On top of this we have the roms which have the SE apps or not, other OEM apps or interfaces or themes pre-installed. It's confusion for everyone.
The threads started several versions of some of the roms earlier and many posts do not have a relationship anymore to the current version. It's time to trash the thread and start anew with a locked sticky that has only the instructions and current links.
While the devs have made great strides with the instructions, I believe most of the readers here want as few steps as possible without branches and a return to the all-inclusive roms would simplify life for most people instead of trying to figure out what the baseband or preinstalling dual touch or a newer generic SE rom as a prerequisite is needed to get to the rom that we are trying to install.
JMHO.
Sent from my X10a using XDA App
Mr. Clown said:
Can you please report the threads or posts .
As you may know we are not 24/7 on xda and doing this will help a lot.
I'll move this thread since it's in the wrong section
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will do. Thanks, Clown.
stan.s said:
The search function on XDA seems to rely mostly on tags. I get better results trying Google. Only 1 of 5 XDA searches even returns any results at all and often not confined to the subforums I wanted. When posting I do check the suggestions that the system shows as related but again it is inaccurate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By far the best way to search is going to Google and using "site:http://forum.xda-developers.com X10 Blah blah blah". I don't even bother with the xda search anymore.
stan.s said:
Finally the devs have moved to a short form install which has more steps than in the past. At first we had all inclusive roms which updated baseband and 'firmware'. Now we have many that are parts; baseband and firmware can be independent installs. Dual touch can be separated or not. On top of this we have the roms which have the SE apps or not, other OEM apps or interfaces or themes pre-installed. It's confusion for everyone.
The threads started several versions of some of the roms earlier and many posts do not have a relationship anymore to the current version. It's time to trash the thread and start anew with a locked sticky that has only the instructions and current links.
While the devs have made great strides with the instructions, I believe most of the readers here want as few steps as possible without branches and a return to the all-inclusive roms would simplify life for most people instead of trying to figure out what the baseband or preinstalling dual touch or a newer generic SE rom as a prerequisite is needed to get to the rom that we are trying to install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not trying to be a ****, but this is xda-developers, not xda-"cool **** for your phone". This is a place for development, and while the community is here to help everyone learn, people get the priorities wrong. There is a time and place for questions (In the Q&A section), and it's NOT the dev threads.
Threads in "Android Development" should be just that; It really hurts everyone when the ROM threads get filled with "How do I flash this?" and "Where's the download for X?". It's not the dev's duty to hold the hand of everyone who doesn't know what xRecovery is. I've installed nearly every ROM for the X10, and I'm sorry, but if you can't figure out how to do it, you shouldn't be in the Android Development forum in the first place.
There are a million threads on how to root, JIT, and flash custom ROMs, yet we still see new "HOW TO SPEED UP UR EXPERIA!!!" and "I want this rom, HOW?" threads every day. It's crazy that people can't read the stickies and ask in the correct forum. The post count restriction for dev forums was a start, but I think we see far too few bans for outright disregard for devs and the forum rules.
This is all JMHO, of course, but I'm sure I'm not alone in these sentiments.
Mr. Clown said:
Can you please report the threads or posts .
As you may know we are not 24/7 on xda and doing this will help a lot.
I'll move this thread since it's in the wrong section
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am glad notice is being taken of the sad trend in some of the xda-developers.com forums. I would humbly like to suggest that a 'report this' tag is included on threads for members to indicate to 'mods' that a particular comment is starting a 'flame war.' Habitual 'flammers' and obnoxious behaviour can then be quickly identified and appropriate action taken against them.
rapatu2010 said:
I am glad notice is being taken of the sad trend in some of the xda-developers.com forums. I would humbly like to suggest that a 'report this' tag is included on threads for members to indicate to 'mods' that a particular comment is starting a 'flame war.' Habitual 'flammers' and obnoxious behaviour can then be quickly identified and appropriate action taken against them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I apologise there is indeed a report 'triangle' but it is rather inconspicous and easily missed. It will be great it is elevated to the same format as the 'Thanks" or 'Qoute' buttons
What's even worse than spam in threads? Threads made *****ing about it.
Sent from my X10a using XDA App
chefrichy said:
What's even worse than spam in threads? Threads made *****ing about it.
Sent from my X10a using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And posts *****ing about threads *****ing about it.
kxhawkins said:
I'm not trying to be a ****, but this is xda-developers, not xda-"cool **** for your phone". This is a place for development, and while the community is here to help everyone learn, people get the priorities wrong. There is a time and place for questions (In the Q&A section), and it's NOT the dev threads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, Q&A section. But it IS xda-cool **** for your phone.
kxhawkins said:
Threads in "Android Development" should be just that; It really hurts everyone when the ROM threads get filled with "How do I flash this?" and "Where's the download for X?". It's not the dev's duty to hold the hand of everyone who doesn't know what xRecovery is. I've installed nearly every ROM for the X10, and I'm sorry, but if you can't figure out how to do it, you shouldn't be in the Android Development forum in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This contradicts what you've said the in the first segment, we're here to learn, and you can only do that with all the language differences here when clear instructions are listed. Forums/websites all around the world, such as Android Central, Gizmodo/Engadget etc., all point readers to here for many handsets. XDA is NEWS as much as anything else.
kxhawkins said:
There are a million threads on how to root, JIT, and flash custom ROMs, yet we still see new "HOW TO SPEED UP UR EXPERIA!!!" and "I want this rom, HOW?" threads every day. It's crazy that people can't read the stickies and ask in the correct forum. The post count restriction for dev forums was a start, but I think we see far too few bans for outright disregard for devs and the forum rules.
This is all JMHO, of course, but I'm sure I'm not alone in these sentiments.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do understand your frustration with users both personally and professionally- they're a PITA. Unfortunately users are what programmers have to cater to- as cool as something might be as a developer- if it's unusable in a practical way, it's only instructional. If XDA's only for learning there's no need here for device specific forums or even posting roms, just post the code snippets that needed modification to get version x.y.z to work; then we can all make our own variant, after all the android SDK is free and was one of the original ways to sideload a app onto any phone. All of us devs have an Eclipse IDE, etc. only post code to compile and that will keep out the riffraff.
XDA doesn't have a Quality-Assurance group to validate posts or the qualifications of the devs or the roms they present or the instruction sheet. I'm sort of personally suspicious of just putting anything on my phone, as where better to hide something than in a rom, and Android already (as well as GSM itself) have enough security issues. Some of the install instructions have been very vague, and if you, as a dev, know the files you want everyone to try, are not xRecovery compatible or require a particular version of the FlashTool or root or whatever, say so upfront. While "I" know 435 is LATER than 453, 497 and 504, not everyone is familiar with all the x10 roms or knows to go to PTCRB to check which ones end in those numbers; therefore, post the entire firmware and baseband number and avoid that question. RTFM is a very old catchphrase that doesn't apply here since there is no manual since you're writing the manual NOW.
I personally support the locking of the dev threads with links to roms to anyone but the OP. Maybe there should be a "Enduser Firmware to Try" subforum which is readable by all, but only postable by mods/devs with firmware of a high enough quality and the ability to support end-users. I've bricked two phones before there was a way to debrick them that worked.
If devs want money or beer or free space in the cloud that's in my name, be upfront, be clear, be helpful and some percentage of the folks here will reward you just as they would pay DaVinci Wotan, Unlockitnow, et al.
stan.s said:
Sure, Q&A section. But it IS xda-cool **** for your phone.
This contradicts what you've said the in the first segment...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it isn't, and no it doesn't. There can be room for both (development / learning), but people don't seem to understand the boundaries of either.
I'm not here to argue, just stating my opinion.

[Q] Learning to dev

Im really interested in learning to develop for the android platform. Are there any programs or books that would help with the process? As of right now im trying to pick up the basic terminology by lurking in the development section of various Android phones.
-Thanks
There are lot of threads like this... try search a bit
To learn application development, it will be good if you have some java skills. I will suggest to visit
developer.android.com
Read through the thread I posted here a couple weeks ago:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1069483
Basically everything you need to get started and compile CM from source.
I gave up after that, damn laziness.
I hope this thread helps you as much as it did me and many others!

Advice on building an app

So, guys, i have a question or two.
I want to develop an app for personal use, which, if it works, could be used by various other people.
it is very specific what i want to build, but i have no clue how to go about it. c
can anyone give advice on where the best place to start with this process is?
it may be a long shot, but it will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Oliver
There have been a few tutorials from Adam Outler on the XDA TV
Well for starters, if you have no programming background you will need to learn to program in the Java Language. Then once you master that, you will have to read up on the android developers website about different topics. Then get familiar with the SDK and API and start building your app.
Questions should be asked in Q&A forums, not development forums.
Thread moved.
Hi
I would say the best place to start is at 'developer.android.com/sdk/installing.html'
They have a step-by-step guide how to install the things needed to get started...
Another good tutorial site for me is vogella.com
I would be careful about starting in right away with the app you want to build.
Your idea might be rather complicated, and I think it is important to start with something really simple.
Learning to do Android from scratch is rather a lot of work - don't under-estimate it and expect to make your idea happen very quickly.
I'm not trying to discourage you - just to make sure your expectations are realistic so you have a good experience.

[Q] Knowledge needed for developing android.

Basically i want to learn how to develop and program for android to create my own apps as well as learn how to edit ROM's and menu's etc.. I have no idea what knowledge is needed... id love to make a career out of it... it seems interesting, fun and challenging. courses to take would be great as well as programs ill need knowledge in aswell as uni courses even... thanks in advance.
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Thanks ✟
Moving to Q&A
There have been quite a few tutorials mentioned on the portal recently, for both app development and more low-level ROM/kernel development. I suggest having a read through the last month or two of posts...
http://www.xda-developers.com/
Learning how to Develop and Program
noah93 said:
Basically i want to learn how to develop and program for android to create my own apps as well as learn how to edit ROM's and menu's etc.. I have no idea what knowledge is needed... id love to make a career out of it... it seems interesting, fun and challenging. courses to take would be great as well as programs ill need knowledge in aswell as uni courses even... thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have no prior knowledge of Programming like me you should defiantly take some free online classes. MIT and Harvard have some excellent classes online for beginners. Here is the thread with a bunch on Online classes you can take.
http://rootzwiki.com/topic/602-free-online-programmingcs-courses-for-beginners/
Now I decided to do that and also i just dived right in to a Rom with Android Kitchen to understand what it actually is, how the files are compiled, and what you can and can not change. By doing this i was able to understand how to Build a slightly modified Rom from CM9 Source and successfully flashed it to my Bionic.Here is the thread i followed to do this.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1272270
Last but not least Android SDK. Install it, do tutorials, and just plain mess around. You can learn alot by doing as well.
http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
Well Good Luck with everything and i hope this helps.
-Bra!n_5torm

How to get started in android app development

Hi everyone, I've recently finished to read a very thorough book about java programming and now I'd like to put into practise what I've learned. I'd like to start developing android apps, but, even though I searched a lot through internet to find something that could help me with this, I didn't find much. So I'm asking you, what should I do to learn how to develop android app and how should I begin?
Looking through the sections and threads here is your best bet...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/app-development
Good luck!
Darth said:
Looking through the sections and threads here is your best bet...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/app-development
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok but I don't think that is what I need. I think a book or a tutorial could help me because I know almost nothing about android developing: I just know a few things about activities, that's all; but if I had to make an actual app, I wouldn't know where to start.
Within that section I linked is this subsection,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/coding/education
Lots of learning resources there! :good:
Darth said:
Within that section I linked is this subsection,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/coding/education
Lots of learning resources there! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thanks then

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