Why isn't it just done like this?

[kcls]

So I have pretty much made this site my number 1 visited now. But ever since I started with the whole installing ROMs, rooting, and all that jazz, I can't help but wonder why the process of installing a rom is done like it is. Currently, when I want to install a ROM on my Optimus, I need to put the file onto my SD card, boot into recovery, and flash it.

Now, why doesn't the developer put the ROM on his/her phone, make a nandroid backup, and post that file up? That way, we can just put the file onto the SD card and restore it to the new ROM? Maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but it seems like that would be an easier way for new people to install ROM. So, why is it done like it is?

 

[watskyhotsky]

So I have pretty much made this site my number 1 visited now. But ever since I started with the whole installing ROMs, rooting, and all that jazz, I can't help but wonder why the process of installing a rom is done like it is. Currently, when I want to install a ROM on my Optimus, I need to put the file onto my SD card, boot into recovery, and flash it.

Now, why doesn't the developer put the ROM on his/her phone, make a nandroid backup, and post that file up? That way, we can just put the file onto the SD card and restore it to the new ROM? Maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but it seems like that would be an easier way for new people to install ROM. So, why is it done like it is?

i was thinking the same thing.

there must be something going on during the install process that makes the installation unique to that phone.

however, i have used a CWM backup of a fresh installed AOSP rom, (that was not even signed into google yet) and copied that backup to the SD of another optimus and had it restore and had two different copies of the same rom on two different phones.

i guess having the .zip is easier then downloading a file tree like the backups of CWM use.

 

[overthinkingme]

Flashing is faster than restoring.
Besides, when they make their roms the resulting file is not a nandroid.
My opinion only.

 

[zedorda]

A Nandroid backup is alot larger than a ROM file. Thats my best guess.

 

[mmarz]

That method would work, but it has three drawbacks.

1. Most rom devs are waaaaaay too lazy to do those extra steps to create a nandroid backup.
   
2. It would make it impossible to flash roms made for different phones. While this may seem like a plus for the novice phone modder, it is useful to use these roms sometimes (or at least harvest their guts).
   
3. Lastly, using the nandroid backup method would make rom customization a pain in the butt. I hardly ever flash a rom as is. The first thing I do when I download a new rom is remove apps from the /data/app and /system/app folders of the zip file. I then preinstall all my main apps into those folders. I then install my start up scripts and data2ext. Finally I sign the whole package so that I know if the file is corrupt. This dramatically cuts down on the steps you need to preform after a fresh flash. I don't even need the market app. Using the nandroid backup method, you wouldn't be able to do this.

You know, you could create the nandroid backups yourself and upload them. I'm sure it would be a handy method for "n00bs" to use (I'm too old to be using such language).

 

[LeslieAnn]

I considered this for a bit actually.

There are a few issues though. The recovery and directory structure is extremely important with some. Also, as Marzz mentioned, customizing is a pain. Tweaking a rom is simple. Tweaking a Nandroid is not so simple. Granted you could tweak on the phone then Nandroid, but for some things it's just plain harder. There is also the fact that, what if there is something wrong, a virus, or personal information. You just passed that to everyone.

A rom gives everyone a clean starting point and the ability to update. You can't update a Nandroid, it replaces everything. So if I change one file, in order to pass it on, I have to wipe out everything on the phone, nandroid, compress it, retaining file structure and then you have to restore it, destroying all of your data. Just for a single file.

The cons outweigh the pros by a fair bit.

 

[sblood86]

Anybody looked into AndBuddy yet? OTA updates for devs supposedly lol