Android

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= Introduction =
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{{Languages|Android}}
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{{Distributions|Android}}
  
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This page is dedicated to porting the [http://www.android.com Android OS] to the [[Neo 1973]] and [[Neo FreeRunner]] handsets.
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{|align=right
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|__TOC__
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|}
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[[Image:Android-logo.png]]
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= Introduction =
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'''[[Android usage]]''' provides a brief overview to get started.
  
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As [http://benno.id.au Ben Leslie] had pointed out on his [http://benno.id.au/blog/2007/11/21/android-neo1973 blog] far before the source code was released, [http://www.android.com Android] was originally designed to work with the ARMv5TE [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_set_architecture instruction set architecture] (ISA), which allows for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture#DSP_Enhancement_Instructions DSP enhanced instructions]. Contrary to the ARMv5TE ISA, the Neo1973 and FreeRunner handsets both feature an arm920t core, which comply to the ARMv4T ISA.
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{{Note|The Android for [[Neo_FreeRunner_GTA02_Hardware|FreeRunner]] development is hosted on [http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/ http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/].}}
  
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Before the source code was released, kernel trap handlers were implemented to 'emulate' the ARMv5TE ISA. Although the results worked in many cases, trapping is costly and performance suffered as a result. Moreover, without explicitly knowing which conditions were set by various instructions, such as Thumb Mode execution, the result became nondeterministic.
+
This page is the central place for documentation about Android on the [[Neo_FreeRunner_GTA02_Hardware|FreeRunner]] handsets.
  
−
With the release of the Android source code, the Open Source community is no longer limited to dealing with a binary-only product. The Open Handset Alliance (OHA) has let their source code become a part of their product for everyone to benefit from and enrich.
+
[http://code.google.com/android/ Android] is a software stack for mobile devices developed by the [http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/ The Open Handset Alliance.] Although Android is publicized as being [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source open source software] (most of the source code has been released) parts of the code have not been released yet.
  
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Since the [http://www.android.com Android OS] was [http://source.android.com/posts/opensource  publically released] on 20081021, [http://benno.id.au/blog/2007/11/21/android-neo1973 work] [http://perpetual-notion.blogspot.com/search/label/android is] [http://groups.google.com/group/android-porting currently underway] to port Android to the [http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo1973_Hardware Neo 1973] and [http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner_GTA02_Hardware FreeRunner] handsets.
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A stable and working version of Android Cupcake is available for the Feerunner. The Froyo version is also available and continuously being improved. It is likely, in the near future, to be the distribution most suited for using the FreeRunner as a phone.
  
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= How to Help =
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= Usage =
 +
See: '''[[Android usage]]''' for detailed instructions on using Android on the FreeRunner.
  
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== Getting Started ==
+
= Installation =
  
−
You can start by following the instructions to download and build the Android source from scratch. Please see [http://source.android.com/download http://source.android.com/download] and follow the instructions for your architecture.
+
[http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/wiki/GetIt Installing Android on Openmoko Freerunner]
  
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== Publicize Your Efforts ==
+
= Development =
 +
Currently the development is done on [http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/ Android-on-Freerunner] (http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/)
  
−
It's generally a good idea to make your efforts known via wiki systems, public mailing lists, forums, and publically open version control systems.
+
See: [[Android porting]]
  
−
Always take credit for your work but please don't do it in the form of comments. Some code is already hard enough to read without comments polluting the text. The best thing to do is to create a patch and put a header with your information at the top. Collaboration systems such as git might already do this for you (??).
+
= News =
 +
* 01 Oct 09 - new Home http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/  ( including googlegroup,IRC,mailinglist,... )
 +
* 19 Sept 09 - from Koolu-Forum:  ..."So I'm glad to announce a new Android Cupcake release for Freerunner! It's basically a merge of the Koolu code with Michael Trimarchi's enhancements and a few bug fixes and cosmetic things I've added. You can download it at our new Google Code site: http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/downloads/list "...
 +
* 22 May 09 - Koolu Releases Beta7 [http://trac.koolu.org/wiki/Releases]
 +
* 15 April 09 - Koolu Releases Beta6 [http://trac.koolu.org/wiki/Releases]
 +
* 07 March 09 - Panicking released a cupcake [http://panicking.kicks-ass.org/download/ rootfs]
 +
* 26 February 09 - As promised, Sean McNeil has released source code to [[GSM]] libraries [https://review.source.android.com/Gerrit#change,9013 Source]
 +
* 20090204 Koolu releases its Beta3 Android [http://freerunner.android.koolu.com/release-files release].
 +
** Changelog:
 +
*** Added GPS library that supports GPS under Android
 +
*** MAX_PROCESSES patch to enable more background processes to be run (fixes Pictures application)
 +
*** Added Dalvik optimization setting
 +
*** Started including 3rd party applications
 +
*** Updated user interfaces for GPS and Bluetooth to match new kernel
 +
*** Now report RSSI of Wifi signals to upper application layer
 +
*** Enable libsoundpool compilation to support audible clicks
  
−
If you create something new and have the ability to designate the license for it, please consider license compatibility issues.
+
* 20090122 Koolu releases its Beta2 Android [http://freerunner.android.koolu.com/release-files release].
  
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== Porting Strategy ==
+
* 20081219 Koolu releases its Beta Android [http://forum.koolu.org/files/androidfs-koolu-1_0.jffs2 Image] and [http://forum.koolu.org/files/uImage-android-patched_bc2caff9cdef8a16.bin kernel].
  
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* Analysis and leverage of the existing build system
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* 20081202 [http://www.koolu.com Koolu], a Freerunner distributor, has released the source code of their Android port at [http://git.koolu.org http://git.koolu.org]. For details on the project source and some real detailed instructions on building the source, see the [http://trac.koolu.org/ the Koolu Trac Website for Android].  TODO: Find out where this link supposed to go->See the [[Android_porting#Building the Koolu Android Source]] instructions below for how to build an Android image for Freerunner.
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** buid/core/combo/arm-linux.mk
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*** -D__ARCH_ARM_4__ -D__ARCH_ARM_4T__
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*** -march=armv4t -mcpu=arm920t
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** fix various static references to 'armv5'
+
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* Isolating ARMv5TE ISA dependent code
+
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** e.g. grep -n -R -i "${armv5te_isa_pattern}" ~/android
+
−
* Abstracting
+
−
** ( C/C++ ) Use inlined functions / #ifdef statments to implement functions in a portable manner
+
−
** ( ASM ) #ifdef statements ?
+
  
−
For each ARMv5TE instruction, one could potentially
+
* 20081104 The first Android-image has been successfully created by Sean McNeil!  - sms and calling works, wifi and bluetooth doesn't. [http://onlinedev.blogspot.com/2008/11/porting-android-phase-3-done.html ''news-source'']
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* Implement the instruction using general registers instead of DSP calls (i.e. eabi / softfloat)
+
−
* If that is a) nondeterministic, or b) slow, then sections of code need to be analyzed and hand-optimized for the ARMv4T isa
+
  
−
== Updates ==
+
= See also =
 +
* http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/
 +
* [http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/User:Seanmcneil3 Sean McNeil] user page for some historical info
  
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Feel free to post a link to any of your work in the list below
+
== Usage ==
  
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[User:Cfriedt] - Android -> FreeRunner updates on my [http://perpetual-notion.blogspot.com/search/label/android blog]
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* [http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/wiki/Applications List of applications] known to be working on AoF
  
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= Important Links =
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* [http://digg.com/linux_unix/Video_demo_of_Freerunner_running_Android_Cupcake_Tutorial Short Video demo of Android] on [[FreeRunner]] to show how usable it is.
−
(Please Update Me)
+
  
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== Documentation ==
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* [http://braydon.com/blog/2009/5/1/koolu-android-on-neo-freerunner-video Koolu beta6 on Neo Freerunner Video]
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* [http://source.android.com/documentation Android Documentation] - Bring yourself up to speed
+
  
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== Hardware Reference ==
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* http://www.freewarelovers.com/android
  
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* [[Neo1973 Hardware]]
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* http://andappstore.com/
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* [[Neo FreeRunner GTA02 Hardware]]
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== Communities ==
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* http://slideme.org/
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* [http://http://source.android.com/discuss Android Public Mailing Lists]
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* [http://forum.koolu.org/viewforum.php?f=10 Android on FreeRunner] at KoolU.com
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* [[Openmoko Local Groups]]
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* [[Openmoko:Community_Portal]]
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== Buy a Handset and Debug Board ==
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* http://www.openintents.org/
  
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* [http://www.openmoko.com/distributors.html Distributors]
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== Videos ==
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* [http://wwww.koolu.com KoolU.com] - North American distributor of the OpenMoko, backed by [http://koolu.com/component/option,com_mojo/Itemid,225/ John "maddog" Hall].
+
* Videos : [http://digg.com/linux_unix/Video_demo_of_Freerunner_running_Android_Cupcake_Tutorial]
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* [http://us.direct.openmoko.com/collections/frontpage OpenMoko Direct] - [[Debug Board v3]]
+
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=m4NbsLmF9j0 YouTube Video 1]
 +
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=r6Op-7tNTiw YouTube Video 2]
  
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== References ==
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[[Category:Android| ]]
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== External Links ==
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[[Category:Android]]
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[[Category:Neo 1973]]
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[[Category:FreeRunner]]
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[[Category:Google]]
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[[Category:Google Apps]]
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[[Category:Distributions]]
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[[Category:Neo1973 Hardware]]
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[[Category:Neo FreeRunner Hardware]]
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[[Category:System Developers]]
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[[Category:User Interfaces]]
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[[Category:Community]]
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[[Category:Drivers]]
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[[Category:Media Libraries]]
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[[Category:Porting]]
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Latest revision as of 16:47, 9 January 2012

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Android is one of the many distributions that currently work on the Openmoko phones. You can compare a distribution with an Operating System on normal computers. It gives the phone all the software needed for operating. For more information about the different flavors, see distributions.

Contents

Android-logo.png

[edit] Introduction

Android usage provides a brief overview to get started.

NOTE: The Android for FreeRunner development is hosted on http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/.


This page is the central place for documentation about Android on the FreeRunner handsets.

Android is a software stack for mobile devices developed by the The Open Handset Alliance. Although Android is publicized as being open source software (most of the source code has been released) parts of the code have not been released yet.

A stable and working version of Android Cupcake is available for the Feerunner. The Froyo version is also available and continuously being improved. It is likely, in the near future, to be the distribution most suited for using the FreeRunner as a phone.

[edit] Usage

See: Android usage for detailed instructions on using Android on the FreeRunner.

[edit] Installation

Installing Android on Openmoko Freerunner

[edit] Development

Currently the development is done on Android-on-Freerunner (http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/)

See: Android porting

[edit] News

  • 01 Oct 09 - new Home http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/ ( including googlegroup,IRC,mailinglist,... )
  • 19 Sept 09 - from Koolu-Forum: ..."So I'm glad to announce a new Android Cupcake release for Freerunner! It's basically a merge of the Koolu code with Michael Trimarchi's enhancements and a few bug fixes and cosmetic things I've added. You can download it at our new Google Code site: http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/downloads/list "...
  • 22 May 09 - Koolu Releases Beta7 [1]
  • 15 April 09 - Koolu Releases Beta6 [2]
  • 07 March 09 - Panicking released a cupcake rootfs
  • 26 February 09 - As promised, Sean McNeil has released source code to GSM libraries Source
  • 20090204 Koolu releases its Beta3 Android release.
    • Changelog:
      • Added GPS library that supports GPS under Android
      • MAX_PROCESSES patch to enable more background processes to be run (fixes Pictures application)
      • Added Dalvik optimization setting
      • Started including 3rd party applications
      • Updated user interfaces for GPS and Bluetooth to match new kernel
      • Now report RSSI of Wifi signals to upper application layer
      • Enable libsoundpool compilation to support audible clicks
  • 20090122 Koolu releases its Beta2 Android release.
  • 20081219 Koolu releases its Beta Android Image and kernel.
  • 20081104 The first Android-image has been successfully created by Sean McNeil! - sms and calling works, wifi and bluetooth doesn't. news-source

[edit] See also

[edit] Usage

[edit] Videos

Retrieved from "http://openmoko.org/index.php?title=Android&oldid=91669"
Personal tools

Introduction

This page is dedicated to porting the Android OS to the Neo 1973 and Neo FreeRunner handsets.

As Ben Leslie had pointed out on his blog far before the source code was released, Android was originally designed to work with the ARMv5TE instruction set architecture (ISA), which allows for DSP enhanced instructions. Contrary to the ARMv5TE ISA, the Neo1973 and FreeRunner handsets both feature an arm920t core, which comply to the ARMv4T ISA.

Before the source code was released, kernel trap handlers were implemented to 'emulate' the ARMv5TE ISA. Although the results worked in many cases, trapping is costly and performance suffered as a result. Moreover, without explicitly knowing which conditions were set by various instructions, such as Thumb Mode execution, the result became nondeterministic.

With the release of the Android source code, the Open Source community is no longer limited to dealing with a binary-only product. The Open Handset Alliance (OHA) has let their source code become a part of their product for everyone to benefit from and enrich.

Since the Android OS was publically released on 20081021, work is currently underway to port Android to the Neo 1973 and FreeRunner handsets.

How to Help

Getting Started

You can start by following the instructions to download and build the Android source from scratch. Please see http://source.android.com/download and follow the instructions for your architecture.

Publicize Your Efforts

It's generally a good idea to make your efforts known via wiki systems, public mailing lists, forums, and publically open version control systems.

Always take credit for your work but please don't do it in the form of comments. Some code is already hard enough to read without comments polluting the text. The best thing to do is to create a patch and put a header with your information at the top. Collaboration systems such as git might already do this for you (??).

If you create something new and have the ability to designate the license for it, please consider license compatibility issues.

Porting Strategy

  • Analysis and leverage of the existing build system
    • buid/core/combo/arm-linux.mk
      • -D__ARCH_ARM_4__ -D__ARCH_ARM_4T__
      • -march=armv4t -mcpu=arm920t
    • fix various static references to 'armv5'
  • Isolating ARMv5TE ISA dependent code
    • e.g. grep -n -R -i "${armv5te_isa_pattern}" ~/android
  • Abstracting
    • ( C/C++ ) Use inlined functions / #ifdef statments to implement functions in a portable manner
    • ( ASM ) #ifdef statements ?

For each ARMv5TE instruction, one could potentially

  • Implement the instruction using general registers instead of DSP calls (i.e. eabi / softfloat)
  • If that is a) nondeterministic, or b) slow, then sections of code need to be analyzed and hand-optimized for the ARMv4T isa

Updates

Feel free to post a link to any of your work in the list below

[User:Cfriedt] - Android -> FreeRunner updates on my blog

Important Links

(Please Update Me)

Documentation

Hardware Reference

Communities

Buy a Handset and Debug Board

References

External Links