Database Develop

Tutorial For building custom rom for G1

Can any body post tutorial for building a custom rom for G1 and Hero?

wrong area to post this... probably should take it off.

were should i put this thread then

Q&A buddy.

I wrote a few how-to's on compiling your own android build from source, i recommend starting here:
http://robblue2x.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-set-up-ubuntu-virtual-machine.html
it is a bit out of date now because android moves so fast, its incredibly hard to keep up to date!

robblue2x said:
I wrote a few how-to's on compiling your own android build from source, i recommend starting here:
http://robblue2x.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-set-up-ubuntu-virtual-machine.html
it is a bit out of date now because android moves so fast, its incredibly hard to keep up to date!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just visited this link But how do modify the existing files of android OS ?

If you have to ask how to change the files then you probably shouldn't be messing with the code for an OS. There is alot to it. You need to know how to set up linux, Git, repo, sdk, emulator, learn java,maybe some C++, edit xml files, and compile the edited code just to name a few.
read this
If you get that working then all you need is a text editor to start changing code.
Good luck!

What about modding existing roms?
Here is what I know so far...
system apps are not individualy signed
Rom must be packaged in zip having 3 root directories.
data (holds apps normaly)
META-INF (holds some kind of build files... and android manifest)
system (holds the OS and scripts and such.)
Also boot.img in the root dir.
The update.zip needs to be resigned if repackaged.
=) that is it all that I have gathered after hours of searching.
I dont want to recompile a kernel as I dont need to modify one. I would rather leave that to the more experienced DEVs. All I want is to remove/replace few apps...
My questions:
How do you sign a file... (tried the sign java thing in ubuntu and I get some king of error... could not find library and what not...)
There is a windows batch file floating around I have not tryed that.
I have some basic understanding of code language and I can flollow instructions even if I have to find my way around some stuff... but this rom building is like black magic... Everyone is doing it no one wants to explain how its done... If its too damn hard then so be it. I can modify it on the back end after installing. I just believe in clean simple installs.
What generates the META-INF directory and the files in there. Seems like there is some instructions on setting permissions for certain files and (manifest) seems like signiture keys..
Is that generated when the file is signed?
is it manualy generated?
is can those files be modified?
I know if this is answered it would be helpful in letting people optimize the builds for their own needs.
Sorry for the long post. I hope this gets explained or I dont care if I have to read, give me a bunch of homework (links).

zambezy said:
What about modding existing roms?
Here is what I know so far...
system apps are not individualy signed
Rom must be packaged in zip having 3 root directories.
data (holds apps normaly)
META-INF (holds some kind of build files... and android manifest)
system (holds the OS and scripts and such.)
Also boot.img in the root dir.
The update.zip needs to be resigned if repackaged.
=) that is it all that I have gathered after hours of searching.
I dont want to recompile a kernel as I dont need to modify one. I would rather leave that to the more experienced DEVs. All I want is to remove/replace few apps...
My questions:
How do you sign a file... (tried the sign java thing in ubuntu and I get some king of error... could not find library and what not...)
There is a windows batch file floating around I have not tryed that.
I have some basic understanding of code language and I can flollow instructions even if I have to find my way around some stuff... but this rom building is like black magic... Everyone is doing it no one wants to explain how its done... If its too damn hard then so be it. I can modify it on the back end after installing. I just believe in clean simple installs.
What generates the META-INF directory and the files in there. Seems like there is some instructions on setting permissions for certain files and (manifest) seems like signiture keys..
Is that generated when the file is signed?
is it manualy generated?
is can those files be modified?
I know if this is answered it would be helpful in letting people optimize the builds for their own needs.
Sorry for the long post. I hope this gets explained or I dont care if I have to read, give me a bunch of homework (links).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my advice for signing files would be to read through this thread. stericson says that JF's autosigning tool will work in linux. if you still can't get it pm stericson, he is a very nice member and should be able to help you

Thanks... That worked in windows.
Im getting some FC's but I can at least work on that now...
I did remove everything from the MANIFEST before signing just in case something did not get overwriten correctly.

I don't mess with the manifest files, so try not touching them and see if that helps

Can any body describe what does these files do while building a theme and how to edit these files:
android.policy.jar
framework.jar
services.jar
build.prop
build.sapphire.prop
build.trout.prop

sabin123 said:
Can any body describe what does these files do while building a theme and how to edit these files:
android.policy.jar
framework.jar
services.jar
build.prop
build.sapphire.prop
build.trout.prop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the prop files are configuration files and should NOT be replaced if your making a theme.
the .jar's should only be messed with if your adding stericsons lockscreen. you will have to decompile them for it to work

How to decompile the services.jar files?

Check out my theme thread. It's from when I was porting Android but most of these questions are explained in pretty good detail with links for more info. That should help you out quite a bit:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=578421
Go to the second post

Thanks for the link..

[REQ] Accurate Battery Mod/Theme

This would be AMAZING to see on the fascinate!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=756441

taypotts said:
This would be AMAZING to see on the fascinate!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=756441
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im looking into it... ill see what i can do.

Sweet!! I know it has something to do with the .xml files. Look into a guy named Eugene he was the creator of this I believe..

taypotts said:
Sweet!! I know it has something to do with the .xml files. Look into a guy named Eugene he was the creator of this I believe..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah... i dont know xml though.... we need to find someone who does xml..

We found anyone that knows XML yet?? I'm really really wanting this!! Lol

As I said before it got lost in the forum crash, I'm pretty sure you just need to copy files from the Captivate version (thread 756627) or original Desire version (thread 756627) into the Fascinate's framework-res.apk and then reinstall that. Will work on it when my phone arrives.

s44 said:
As I said before it got lost in the forum crash, I'm pretty sure you just need to copy files from the Captivate version (thread 756627) or original Desire version (thread 756627) into the Fascinate's framework-res.apk and then reinstall that. Will work on it when my phone arrives.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nah already tried that... you have to exit the .xml to update that there is new images for the battery too.... we need an xml person, i promise.

Hello,
I too was interested in this mod so I went ahead and ported it to the Fascinate.
My framework-res.apk is from dh12 I am unsure if this works with the update. There is a readme in the zip file that explains how to install. This is not an update.zip you must push my framework-res.apk using adb or some other method.
I take no responsibility if you brick your phone with this. Make a backup and follow the directions in the readme file. It seems to work ok on my phone, but I'm not going to sit there and watch it drain every percentage point
I take no credit for this I just modified what I found on the OP's linked thread. What I implemented was the battery with the number inside, but you can use any of the other types by replacing the pngs in my framework-res.apk with 7-zip.
If there are any problems let me know.
Enjoy.

Threax said:
Hello,
I too was interested in this mod so I went ahead and ported it to the Fascinate.
My framework-res.apk is from dh12 I am unsure if this works with the update. There is a readme in the zip file that explains how to install. This is not an update.zip you must push my framework-res.apk using adb or some other method.
I take no responsibility if you brick your phone with this. Make a backup and follow the directions in the readme file. It seems to work ok on my phone, but I'm not going to sit there and watch it drain every percentage point
I take no credit for this I just modified what I found on the OP's linked thread. What I implemented was the battery with the number inside, but you can use any of the other types by replacing the pngs in my framework-res.apk with 7-zip.
If there are any problems let me know.
Enjoy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent, yea that framework should work, I have switched from both systems without doing the full update and my phone has been fine.
May I ask the names of the xmls you edited, so I can manually pull them, I don't want to retheme the whole framework-res lol.
EDIT: Nevermind just downloaded and saw that you included the files you edited separately too.

My hero right here!! I'm going to have some fun with themes now!! Lol

Threax said:
Hello,
I too was interested in this mod so I went ahead and ported it to the Fascinate.
My framework-res.apk is from dh12 I am unsure if this works with the update. There is a readme in the zip file that explains how to install. This is not an update.zip you must push my framework-res.apk using adb or some other method.
I take no responsibility if you brick your phone with this. Make a backup and follow the directions in the readme file. It seems to work ok on my phone, but I'm not going to sit there and watch it drain every percentage point
I take no credit for this I just modified what I found on the OP's linked thread. What I implemented was the battery with the number inside, but you can use any of the other types by replacing the pngs in my framework-res.apk with 7-zip.
If there are any problems let me know.
Enjoy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes! Thanks so much, just got it on my phone and so far so good
is it possible to make the battery the stock blue color?

betostunts said:
yes! Thanks so much, just got it on my phone and so far so good
is it possible to make the battery the stock blue color?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be working with this tonight and hopefully coming out with a flashable version as well..

Yes implementing this into my remix nextheme as we speak.
Problem is I am making each image one by one lol.

What did you use to decompile and rebuild your apk? I'm just getting android developement/themeing and I noticed there seem to be a couple tools.
Thanks,
Dan

It doesn't seem to change the battery charge images...
(Working on this)

Yeah I keep changing the images and try to put them in a update.zip but I fail.. it doesn't keep up with the actual charge of the battery.

I used apk manager 4.9. You will need to get adb and java for it to work. Also I can't get this program to push the modded apks, but I just do it manually. The program is nice because it kind of guides you through what you need to do.
Also I did not modify the charge icons just the battery drain.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Is apk manager's advice that you don't sign system apks correct?

Threax said:
I used apk manager 4.9. You will need to get adb and java for it to work. Also I can't get this program to push the modded apks, but I just do it manually. The program is nice because it kind of guides you through what you need to do.
Also I did not modify the charge icons just the battery drain.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - I had seen that but was just apkTool 1.2. I have been using adb and have been successful in making some small tweaks to verify what I am doing.
Regarding signing - it was my understanding that the apks should always be signed to ensure the system doesn't run into problems. I have not proofed how not signing effects things or if there are any side effects to now signing or if an app looks for a specific signature.
References for anyone following this thread...(http removed as I'm a new member and cannot post links yet)
APK Manager --> forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701
apkTool --> forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=707189

dashultz said:
Thanks - I had seen that but was just apkTool 1.2. I have been using adb and have been successful in making some small tweaks to verify what I am doing.
Regarding signing - it was my understanding that the apks should always be signed to ensure the system doesn't run into problems. I have not proofed how not signing effects things or if there are any side effects to now signing or if an app looks for a specific signature.
References for anyone following this thread...(http removed as I'm a new member and cannot post links yet)
APK Manager --> forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701
apkTool --> forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=707189
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't want to sign the system apks. It is my understanding that it somehow reuses the old signature. This is what is nice about Apk Manager as it will prompt you with this information so you don't have to guess when you are first learning. It also nicely organizes your projects and allows you to easily zip everything back up.
It also has a nice feature when recompiling a system apk to allow you to copy files from the original apk if unmodified (you delete what you have changed from a directory it created). I needed to do this because when I was first modifying framework-res.apk I would get a blank screen when rebooting my phone. When I had apk manager keep most of the old files it worked perfectly, so if you are having problems with modded xml files try using this feature. It will prompt you when you are recompiling the apk.
Sorry to turn this into the noob apk packaging thread, but I am new to this as well and am happy to share what I've picked up to save any other people some time.

[Q] rom porting question

Alright....I've tried searching and searching but I can't find exactly what I need. I'm wanting to try to port blue echo to cm6.1. Now I'm still a little new at this but I've learned how to smali and baksmali, use flashboot, sdk, sign zips, create flashable zips, zip align, optimize, pretty much all the ends and outs of the basic. I've only been at this 4 months but I love android and want to learn to become a dev. Now I'm trying to learn how to theme roms. There are a million guides that I've found but now will tell me how to do this . Could someone point in the right direction to a thread explaining how to port a sense theme to cm6.1. Ive tried replacing the images in the drawables folders from framework-res . Repackaged zip aligned optimized signed and flashed. Nothing took. So I opened the zip all the images had copied over in the cm6 rom zip. So I wiped and flashed the modded zip it still reverts to the original framework of cm6. I don't understand how that is. I need a way to just copy the colors and images. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong or know of a how to with just the steps .I already have all the programs on my pc.

shawn328 said:
Alright....I've tried searching and searching but I can't find exactly what I need. I'm wanting to try to port blue echo to cm6.1. Now I'm still a little new at this but I've learned how to smali and baksmali, use flashboot, sdk, sign zips, create flashable zips, zip align, optimize, pretty much all the ends and outs of the basic. I've only been at this 4 months but I love android and want to learn to become a dev. Now I'm trying to learn how to theme roms. There are a million guides that I've found but now will tell me how to do this . Could someone point in the right direction to a thread explaining how to port a sense theme to cm6.1. Ive tried replacing the images in the drawables folders from framework-res . Repackaged zip aligned optimized signed and flashed. Nothing took. So I opened the zip all the images had copied over in the cm6 rom zip. So I wiped and flashed the modded zip it still reverts to the original framework of cm6. I don't understand how that is. I need a way to just copy the colors and images. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong or know of a how to with just the steps .I already have all the programs on my pc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simplest way, if you just want the icons, pics and notification bar things is to use 7zip for PC. Don't extract the theme, just open it. Navigate to the framework-res.apk file of the new ROM you want the theme to work on, open but don't extract, copy all the .png files from the theme into the ROM or new theme you are making. It will ask you to replace, obviously you say "yes" When you are done, just close it all back up, no recompressing or signing needed because you didn't extract anything. Just put it on your SD card and it will flash.
Let me know if you need more help. This by and large the simplest method for making minor edits to a theme.

Download the CyanogenSense theme by mrinehart93 found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723224
It's a working Sense-looking theme on CM6. Download it, unzip it on your PC, pick it apart, etc. to see how he changed and compiled it to make it work. Hopefully that will help you figure out how to do what you want to do. Good luck.

chromiumleaf said:
Download the CyanogenSense theme by mrinehart93 found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723224
It's a working Sense-looking theme on CM6. Download it, unzip it on your PC, pick it apart, etc. to see how he changed and compiled it to make it work. Hopefully that will help you figure out how to do what you want to do. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 Good idea!

ranger61878 said:
Simplest way, if you just want the icons, pics and notification bar things is to use 7zip for PC. Don't extract the theme, just open it. Navigate to the framework-res.apk file of the new ROM you want the theme to work on, open but don't extract, copy all the .png files from the theme into the ROM or new theme you are making. It will ask you to replace, obviously you say "yes" When you are done, just close it all back up, no recompressing or signing needed because you didn't extract anything. Just put it on your SD card and it will flash.
Let me know if you need more help. This by and large the simplest method for making minor edits to a theme.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this but had to flash clockword because i was using ra, it wasn't verifying the update. So i turned off signature verification. But I'm using firerat mtd and forgot that i have to repatch the clockword for this so I did'nt really get to see if it worked yet. But thanks all of you responding I appreciate it. Ill let you know if these methods work.

I fixed the prob. Did everything suggested by copying the png's between the zips without extracting them. Even doubled checked all the png's everything looked like it was a go . But I only got 3 of my new icons. Everything else was still stock cm6 even the notification bar was stock. Do I got to do more than just transfer the png's cause it seems like maybe the xml's are reverting them back to stock?

[Script][Beta] Theme Backup/Restore

Hey,
Not sure if its the right section, but flashing themes is what got me to make this script in first place.
So this script essentially works like :
You drag/drop a theme update.zip onto it.
It then goes through the .zip and see's what its replacing.
Then from your phone it'll backup those files into a cwm flashable .zip
[Windows Only][Only backs up system partition content that .zip replaces]
Instructions :
Download this
Extract [To a directory whose path has no spaces or wierd characters]
Drag a theme update.zip onto UpdateBacker.bat
Follow through
Main purpose is so you have a backup incase of those theme flashes that ended up screwing things up.
Note : This is beta, i have only tested on mine.
Hope it works lol.
Updates :
Added adb/java check
Added push to sdcard

EDIT: The entire contents of the unzipped folder need to be inside the tools section of your sdk for the .bat to work.
This is a great little tool. First try for me worked flawlessly.
I'm on a Samsung Captivate if it makes any difference.

SwiftJudgement said:
EDIT: The entire contents of the unzipped folder need to be inside the tools section of your sdk for the .bat to work.
This is a great little tool. First try for me worked flawlessly.
I'm on a Samsung Captivate if it makes any difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey.
Yea forgot to say adb/sdk has to be in path.
Glad u got it working.

If this is like any of your other scripts it'll be a God send. I'll give this a try when I get home.
Thanks.

dully79 said:
If this is like any of your other scripts it'll be a God send. I'll give this a try when I get home.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ur too kind.
Let me know if it works. If people like/use this then i will keep updating and adding features.

Tried this last night and it worked perfect. I backed up my current theme then applied a bunch of corrupt .9's resulting in force close city. Applied the backup and everything returned to as it was.
Top marks once again.
How about an option to backup to flash.zip or a Metamorph file, would this be possible?

dully79 said:
Tried this last night and it worked perfect. I backed up my current theme then applied a bunch of corrupt .9's resulting in force close city. Applied the backup and everything returned to as it was.
Top marks once again.
How about an option to backup to flash.zip or a Metamorph file, would this be possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool glad it worked for you.
Not sure what you mean by flash.zip, it already creates a flashable update.zip. Unless ur referring to renaming it to something else ?
As for metamorph, perhaps but id imagine it might be tricky.

Sorry, I meant an option to choose between exporting to zip or metamorph.
I thought a metamorph option might be a bit tricky, but if you don't ask you don't get

hi
can you reuploade the file please. i want to try this.
greets markus

katsching said:
hi
can you reuploade the file please. i want to try this.
greets markus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try, again

hey thank you very much!

ähhmm hmm ... how i use this tool exactly? where i find this theme update.zip?

[guide]easy apk modding (linux)

Most of the guides ive read on XDA say you have to decompile and recompile APKS just to make a couple of modifications to the images. Well I dont believe this to be true. I have tested my method on ubuntu 14.10 and with my nexus 5.
This guide is specifically for modifying images inside of the apks, not the code, or xml itself.
- ADB pull the APK file you want to modify (i chose SystemUI.apk)
- Double click it in File Manager on ubuntu, this should open it up in the archive manager. If not, manually open it up in archive manager
- Click on the "Add Files" button and select which files you want to replace. It will automatically overwrite the current ones.
- Make sure that you are keeping the proper directory structure and are putting the images in the proper place with proper names.
- Copy the new APK file back to your device on /sdcard/file.apk
Then, to get the APK file back on your system without causing problems, I rebooted into TWRP, mounted system and went into the file manager and copy/pasted the APK in the appropriate folder. When you get back into android, chmod 644 new-file.apk. I would not suggest trying to copy the modified APK file into your system while android is running live. Thats why I did it in TWRP. It could cause system unstability, crashing, etc... Im sure that I am not the first person to realize this could be done, but I did discover this on my own because I like to try things. PLEASE, make a backup in case something doesnt work correctly after your mod. Good luck!

bynarie said:
Most of the guides ive read on XDA say you have to decompile and recompile APKS just to make a couple of modifications to the images.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine doesn't.

XperienceD said:
Mine doesn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um, not to be rude but the guide on your signature shows using apktool to decompile and recompile. Soo....? Unless its another guide. And Im not saying ALL guides are, but some, and thats ok. Could you link me to your guide please? I would love to take a look at it. Thanks
EDIT - woops im sorry i didnt really read it... i do see where it says drag and drop the images... good deal. sorry

bynarie said:
Um, not to be rude but the guide on your signature shows using apktool to decompile and recompile. Soo....?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edit: No need for my original reply as you found it.

XperienceD said:
Edit: No need for my original reply as you found it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, and your guide is very good. Thank you for that.