Black God

Android is the Google’s open source Operating System designed for mobile devices. Apart from Google, most of the top players of mobile industries are behind Google developing this linux kernel based OS.

What the project says about itself?

This project comprises of three areas for various levels of user and contributors.

1. Operating System Source Code maintained at http://source.android.com/. If you really want to contribute to kernel level coding of this exciting OS, go to this site and contribute or learn as you wish or capable. But it is sure that your hands will become dirty to maximum extent in this heavily customized linux kernel.

The Project layout as per the site is

• Core projects:  These projects make up the foundation of the Android platform.
• External projects:  The Android Open Source Project makes use of many other open source projects.
• Packages:  These projects are standard Android applications and services.

2. Software Development Kit (SDK) for Android is maintained at http://developer.android.com/. This aims at Application developers who can make wonderful innovative application on top of powerful and simple framework of Android. The SDK will take care of all under the hood technologies like getting GPS information, data from camera, input methods, hardware dependent stuffs, etc. Application developer needs to be innovative, rest the SDK will do. But one drawback for non-Java people is JAVA is the only supported application development environment. Though a powerful Phone Emulator is available with SDK, Google is selling one phone per developer to test the application on real hardware. This Phone is completely unlocked in both SIM and Boot loader wise.

3. Android market is the one where end user can download both free and paid applications. These applications are expected to be compatible with any mobile phone based on Android OS.

In the next part of this series, first let us see the Architecture of Android in simple way. Then let us jump into the all low level dirty stuff.

The scope of this article is restricted as below:

I am not going to pin point all but some of the important features to remember.

When a figure is more clear, I don’t like to explain it further.

Where ever possible I will try to give some authentic documentation link.

It is assumed that reader has some basic OS knowledge.