Learning to PORT

[Invincible Madness]

I want to learn how to build a custom ROM, be it from source or port from another device.
I've been here for about 10 months, benefited extremely and want to contribute in some way.
Not just that, it's really getting more and more interesting everyday. Just that flashing ROMs and themes started to get boring now, I want to dive deeper.

I tried looking online and found too many links on this. I just wanted to ask if someone knows a link where majority if the info is covered form basics (also, what are the 'must' basics needed. What tools/softwares do I need to install. What programming/scripting languages do I need to know and what skill level is needed to START.

I have more questions but I want to keep the OP small. If someone would be kind enough to answer these, I can ask more

PS: If theming is easier place to start, I can learn that instead. But would that help in learning how to cook a ROM?

Will be waiting for a 100 page thread link from someone

 

[rukin5197]

I want to learn how to build a custom ROM, be it from source or port from another device.
I've been here for about 10 months, benefited extremely and want to contribute in some way.
Not just that, it's really getting more and more interesting everyday. Just that flashing ROMs and themes started to get boring now, I want to dive deeper.

I tried looking online and found too many links on this. I just wanted to ask if someone knows a link where majority if the info is covered form basics (also, what are the 'must' basics needed. What tools/softwares do I need to install. What programming/scripting languages do I need to know and what skill level is needed to START.

I have more questions but I want to keep the OP small. If someone would be kind enough to answer these, I can ask more

PS: If theming is easier place to start, I can learn that instead. But would that help in learning how to cook a ROM?

Will be waiting for a 100 page thread link from someone

I know of a LOT of huge devs that's started out as themers. Not saying that its easier, but it will definitely get you used to all the files and really what androids made of.

If you want to talk to someone about developing and them tell you how they did, you should talk to me2151. He literally just started out deving and I've helped him starting out. So he can tell you what you need and all that jazz

Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

 

[me2151]

I want to learn how to build a custom ROM, be it from source or port from another device.
I've been here for about 10 months, benefited extremely and want to contribute in some way.
Not just that, it's really getting more and more interesting everyday. Just that flashing ROMs and themes started to get boring now, I want to dive deeper.

I tried looking online and found too many links on this. I just wanted to ask if someone knows a link where majority if the info is covered form basics (also, what are the 'must' basics needed. What tools/softwares do I need to install. What programming/scripting languages do I need to know and what skill level is needed to START.

I have more questions but I want to keep the OP small. If someone would be kind enough to answer these, I can ask more

PS: If theming is easier place to start, I can learn that instead. But would that help in learning how to cook a ROM?

Will be waiting for a 100 page thread link from someone

lol i literally started building from source less than a week ago and i already have a rom out. its not that hard.

I used this thread to help me

http://forums.androidcentral.com/optimus-v-rooting-roms-hacks/104423-building-your-own-rom.html
post #3

also its 57 pages instead of 100 but its close enough and it works well.

 

[rukin5197]

lol i literally started building from source less than a week ago and i already have a rom out. its not that hard.

I used this thread to help me

http://forums.androidcentral.com/optimus-v-rooting-roms-hacks/104423-building-your-own-rom.html
post #3

also its 57 pages instead of 100 but its close enough and it works well.

Also, if you're wanting to get used to github, look on page 55 of that thread. Jerry's listed a great tutorial for setting up your forks and what not

Edit: even more info, I wouldn't recommend using wubi for Ubuntu!!
The partition only goes up to 30gb, and that's barely enough to build.
I recommend burning the installer on a disk and manually setting up a nice partition (I used ~100gb)
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

 

[Invincible Madness]

Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate your quick response.

gannon: what installer were you talking about burning manually there?
Regarding the partition, is it ok If I install Linux Mint or bodhi on a 100GB partition? Which one would you recommend?

me2151: When you say you started it a week ago, I want to ask what knowledge of android did you have at that time? I'm not even sure what all tools and languages one needs to start. Like, did you know Unix, Java, XML, Python, etc when you started. I just took them as example, what languages/tools one need to set up and learn?

Thanks again guys, will ask you more as I start reading.

 

[me2151]

Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate your quick response.

gannon: what installer were you talking about burning manually there?
Regarding the partition, is it ok If I install Linux Mint or bodhi on a 100GB partition? Which one would you recommend?

me2151: When you say you started it a week ago, I want to ask what knowledge of android did you have at that time? I'm not even sure what all tools and languages one needs to start. Like, did you know Unix, Java, XML, Python, etc when you started. I just took them as example, what languages/tools one need to set up and learn?

Thanks again guys, will ask you more as I start reading.

Honestly.... all i know is really how to flash roms and use recovery(also to unbrick my phone.)

i am a quick learner... thats all(and i had alittle help from thekraven and drew )(oh and gannon )

 

[epidenimus]

Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate your quick response.

Regarding the partition, is it ok If I install Linux Mint or bodhi on a 100GB partition? Which one would you recommend?

Not sure of your familiarity with Linux distros, but go Mint. It's a bit more robust that Bodhi and you will find better support. And it rocks as a full time OS. Also, I'd start getting familiar with Linux, because that's what drives your device; Android is just a layer on top of it.

 

[me2151]

yea didnt even see that >.<
I'd go Mint.

I use Ubuntu as full-time OS only cuz its easy and doesnt complain

 

[epidenimus]

I could give you all kinds of tips on setting it up, but if you have 100GB to dedicate, I'd partition this way:
linux-swap -- 2x your machine's RAM
40-50 GB EXT4 -- Linux Mint /
Remainder EXT4 -- /data or /home

Once you get set up, just plug your Optimus in the USB port, no drivers are required. Installing the ADK is optional. I have a folder for it on my desktop and run it right from there. Just open a terminal and change to its directory.

 

[Invincible Madness]

Thanks epidenimus, I'll go Mint then. Just downloaded the .iso. Now looking for a DVD
So, a 100gb partition for mint is good? I have a 230GB HD with windows 7 btw. I'm looking at the UNIX basics right now and will read more on Linux next. I might give a week to learning the basics and setting up the stuff.

me2151: I don't believe that's all you know (no, I seriously don't )

 

[me2151]

Thanks epidenimus, I'll go Mint then. Just downloaded the .iso. Now looking for a DVD
So, a 100gb partition for mint is good? I have a 230GB HD with windows 7 btw. I'm looking at the UNIX basics right now and will read more on Linux next. I might give a week to learning the basics and setting up the stuff.

me2151: I don't believe that's all you know (no, I seriously don't )

If i go back about 3 years i learned a little java and php from a book :/ but those dont really apply here :/

 

[Invincible Madness]

If i go back about 3 years i learned a little java and php from a book :/ but those dont really apply here :/

I hear you. And I think it's a hope for me as it gives me confidence that I too can learn and build a ROM.
I get from people I work/study with that I'm a quick learner but not sure if as quick as you are. so, I might take longer to learn this. Please do let me know if you have any other sources to read/learn from. That would help me alot. I sincerely thank you all guys for responding and guiding me in this 'quest' (such a big word ).

PS: And I need to read a lot of MIPS-ARM architectures, gates, UML, algorithms for school at the same time.

 

[epidenimus]

Thanks epidenimus, I'll go Mint then. Just downloaded the .iso. Now looking for a DVD
So, a 100gb partition for mint is good? I have a 230GB HD with windows 7 btw. I'm looking at the UNIX basics right now and will read more on Linux next. I might give a week to learning the basics and setting up the stuff

100GB for Mint should be plenty fine. You will soon see how much of a hog Windows is! I'm big on partition planning, so that's always on my mind when setting up dual boots. The idea is to have your data files (pics, vids, music, etc) on a separate shared partition and your OS's on their own partitions. Windows likes to hog the whole HDD into one partition, so you would have to adjust that with Gparted. That way you don't lose any of your stuff if/when Windows needs to be reinstalled or you want to do a fresh install of LinuxMint.

BTW, the ADB shell is pretty much a straight Linux terminal.

This seems to be getting pretty off topic. Feel free to PM me with any other questions about setting it up. It's really not that difficult to do if you are somewhat familiar with installing OS's and partitioning.


.

 

[liamstanley]

Will a 20gb + partition work, or do I need allot more?

 

[epidenimus]

Will a 20gb + partition work, or do I need allot more?

That's a little lean, but it would work.

 

[mortalapeman]

Invincible, I'm glad you asked about this because I was literally typing out a post just like this yesterday but then decided I should just try to do my own research first when I have time. I've been lurking on these forums for about a year and I've really really appreciated everything all the devs have done. I'd really like ot get a better understanding of how my phone works so maybe I can make a phone alarm app that actually wakes me up in the morning. I've one now that makes me do a simple math problem before I can turn it off. Well now I'm just really good at simple math and I don't even have to think about it so I just do it and go right back to sleep. I need one that makes me do a linear algebra problem in my head or something xD

In any case when I get out of school in 2 months I'd really like to be around here more and help out with fixing bugs. I've picked up programming from where I work so I shouldn't take me too long to get into the swing of this. And btw, using Linux for programming is sooooooooo much easier than trying to set things up on windows. Oh I want to install anything python related? sudo aptitude install python-*, done. I wouldn't recommend running that btw, you might get a lot of stuff you won't ever need. But the point is that setting up your dev environment can be a one liner in the command line if you know exactly what you want. Windows will have you tracking down the links for each package.

I'll be keeping an out eye, but if you want to keep a small list of the sites and stuff that really helped you get started I'll probably be asking for them here in the near future. Good luck too ya!

 

[Invincible Madness]

^ sure thing

 

[PatrickAkridge]

What is the name of the alarm app with tthe simple math prob

Sent from my LG-LS670 running CyanogenMod 7 and Gingerbread

 

[Va1ha11a]

sleep as android

 

[mortalapeman]

Alarm Droid:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.splunchy.android.alarmclock

That's the alarm app that I currently use and really like. The only issue I have with it is the math problem is always a multiplication problem + addition problem which I find are the easiest of simple math to do. I have a harder time with division (Not really much harder, but I do have to think a tiny bit) and I feel that implementing some linear algebra would be pretty easy.