[HOW TO] Beginners Guide to Android ROM Development

Started this tutorial in the HTC HD2-Nand forum, I think maybe someone can find it useful  Who is this tutorial for? Absolute Beginners like me  People with little or no programming skills  This is a very basic tutorial!!

Step one: Setting up the Android kitchen First you will need to set up dsixda's android kitchen (All credit for the kitchen to dsixda's) Go to dsixda's thread for a list of supported devices. Here is a summary of the installation process( I recommend you read the tread first) 1. Before you do anything install the java jdk(find it in dsixda's thread) 2. Download and extract the cygwin_packages.zip provided by dsixda on third post 3. Run the set up(make sure there is no previous cygwin installation) 4. Follow the kitchen read me txt!!! 5) local package directory *must* be the path to the cygwin_packages folder that you just extracted 6) when it shows all the package names, go to the top and select "all <-> default" until it changes to "all <-> install" (you must click on the arrows) 7. Run the cygwin at least once and close, now you will see a folder inside the cygwin installation like this: Home\your user name\ 8. Download the kitchen and extract to the home\your user name\ 9. Rename the dsixda-android-kitchen-*** folder to just "kitchen" 10. Now your ready to run the kitchen type: Code: cd kitchen(enter) ./menu(enter) 11. If you did things right you should see this: congratulations!!

Step Two: Setting up a working folder 1. First our folder structure should look like this: Code: cygwin folder/home/your user name/kitchen 2. Inside the kitchen it should look like this: 3. Now we need a rom to work on, for this tutorial i will use my own rom but you can use any hd2 rom. Place the original rom zip in the original_updatefolder inside the kitchen. 4.run the cygwin.exe again type: Code: cd kitchen(enter) ./menu(enter) 5.now enter option 1, enter again. You should see your rom listed, choose and enter 6.you will be asked about changing the working folders name, at this point it makes no difference so just continue. 7.you will be asked to convert to update-scrip do it and continue 8. Now you can view the roms info 9. congratulations you have a working folder!!!

Step Three :change/modify/update! First I will be covering basic changes you can make to your rom, later I will be adding more helpful hints.  Adding/removing applications 1. Go to the working folder where you extracted your rom, inside you will find:  or  2. Then go to "system/app" inside this folder you will find all the rom applications(apks) you may also find some in the data folder if your rom has this folder. 3. Copy, replace, and change any app(apk) be carefull if you dont know what the apk is do not delete!! 4. Congrats you have modified a rom, if your ready and want to see if it worked skip to step four to buil rom from working folder. Adding new boot animation 1. Just replace the bootanimation.zip located in "workingfolder/system/media" with the boot animation of your choice. here is a sample of my bootanimation to try. Edit the gps script for your country/location 1. In the workingfolder/system/etc/ you will find a file named gps.conf, you can edit this file with notepad++ or even word. 2. using the right gps script in this file can speed up gps lock, you can find some from angeldeath, download extract and replace the gps.conf. Changing the default wallpaper 1. Be very careful doing this, do not edit,delete or modify an apk without knowing what it is or does.not all things are as simple as copy and paste. 2. go to the workingfolder/system/framework/ 3. Install 7zip and open the framework-res.apk 4. With in the framework-res.apk with 7zip go to "res/drawable-hdpi/" and look for the default_wallpaper.jpg. You can extract modify and replace with new one. 5. Make sure its the same file format and image dimensions.(in some roms you can also modify the default_lock_wallpaper.jpg) MMS Fix for T-mobile 1. *I Have only tested this on MIUI Roms* 2. Go to "workingfolder/system/app" 3. Find MMS.apk 4. Right click and open with 7zip 5.Inside mms.apk go to "rex/xml/" 6.replace the "mms_config.xml" with this "mms_config.xml" modifying build.prop "build.prop" is a file that contains various system-vital "parameters" Some can be modified with little risk, some can cause havoc. So Please do this Carefully!!!!!! 1. Locate the file "workingfolder/system/" 2. Open with notepad++ There is several simple changes that can be done, I will start with some and add more later.  LCD Density 1. If you dont know anything about this topic Here is some info to get started 2.Locate this line inside the build.prop "ro.sf.lcd_density=240" 3.The only value you will modify is the "240" to your preference. Difference is simple and visible! Update Kernel From update.zip Note that it's not always as easy as copy and paste 1. Extract you kernel_update.zip 2. Copy and replace the extracted files to the corresponding folders inside your finished ROM 3.Start with the boot folder 3. Than the system folder (there might be some libs and modules associated with the rom) 4. Another helpful hint is to open the updater-script to see if your kernel requires you to delete anything for the kernel to work correctly. sample script: Code: delete("/system/ppp"); -there are several other options provided by dsixda's android kitchen for that I recomend you go to the tread and read.

Step Four: repackage the rom Now that you have made some changes it's time to test!! 1. Run the kitchen and enter option 99 - "biuld rom from working folder" 2. Choose mgldr or clk 3. I recommend that you go with all default options until you get more experience with the kitchen. 4. When its all done you will find a folder inside "cygwin/home/yousername/kitchen" called output_zip 5. Inside the folder is your new rom ready to be flashed and tested!!! UPDATER-SCRIPT Quote: Thanks to user langthang for a great updater-script guide. Download it HERE I had a couple of request on how to get custom txt during the ROM installation in CWM, the updater-script basically tells CWM what steps to take during the installation(flashing rom). If you don't have any experience please don't edit anything other than what is in this simple tutorial. 1.First once you have your Rom ready in .zip format, Open with 7zip 2.Go to META-INF/com/google/android 3.Extract the updater-scrip file 4.Open with Notepad++ 5.Any text that would appear during the CWM install should be in this format : Code: ui_print("Put your text in HERE"); Here is the requested 3d MIUI LOGO for example: Code: ui_print(""); ui_print(""); ui_print(""); ui_print(""); ui_print(""); ui_print(" ___ ___ "); ui_print(" /__/\\ ___ /__/\\ ___ "); ui_print(" | |::\\ / /\\ \\ \\:\\ / /\\ "); ui_print(" | |:|:\\ / /:/ \\ \\:\\ / /:/ "); ui_print(" __|__|:|\\:\\ /__/::\\ ___ \\ \\:\\ /__/::\\ "); ui_print("/__/::::| \\:\\\\__\\/\\:\\__ /__/\\ \\__\\:\\\\__\\/\\:\\__ "); ui_print("\\ \\:\\~~\\__\\/ \\ \\:\\/\\\\ \\:\\ / /:/ \\ \\:\\/\\"); ui_print(" \\ \\:\\ \\__\\::/ \\ \\:\\ /:/ \\__\\::/"); ui_print(" \\ \\:\\ /__/:/ \\ \\:\\/:/ /__/:/ "); ui_print(" \\ \\:\\ \\__\\/ \\ \\::/ \\__\\/ "); ui_print(" \\__\\/ \\__\\/ "); ui_print(" "); ui_print(" "); ui_print(" "); ui_print(" "); ui_print(" "); 6.Add your text start at top and save, then replace with new updater-scrip congratulations!!

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