How to get familiar with android BSP development/porting for specific embedded platform?

[Oleg Kazakov]

Hello,

I am system developing engineer.

I am quite new for android development but I have a huge background for system development for other embedded platform like Windows CE, Linux.

My goal is to find any doc that can help me to understand the android OS development process from boot loader, Linux kernel, android core up to developing system drivers/services.

My experience with android 3-4 months so I am already familiar with android application development (has a lot of well developed documentation and 3rd party references),

I also familiar with native NDK based development (this field is not documented well but still it is acceptable). 

I tried to understand the system android code but I did not find any useful docs related.

I know that I can use open source and try to understand the internal architecture from it, but it will take a lot of time and probably it is not a good way to learn the architecture from the bottom and maybe just impossible to understand such big resource. 

For example one of my task is modifying android display composition module according to our system requirements (such modification must not affect the basic android functionality).

I spent almost one month even with good TRACE32 debuger, that allow to debug system level code, but still I did not get the architecture between WindowManager and SurfaceFlinger/HWComposer.

As I checked android internally developed very well compare to other embedded OS. It uses completely OOP approach and it is not difficult to understand specific object functionality, 

but it almost impossible to get the total architectural concept. Even making the brake point on specific place, it is almost impossible to understand how was initiator for such event.

I do not believe that such good code was developed without any docs, so such docs must exist.

I'll be very appreciated if someone can give me any tips where can I find good docs related to android BSP development/porting and android internal functionality.

It does not matter if it will cost some money or it will require to participate to specific android partner program or licensing.

If someone knows the education program or specific seminars it could be also a solution.

Sorry for such big post.

Best regards.

Oleg

[Mauricio Cirelli]

Well, there are some docs community have worked on by their own..

I do not know what are you looking for exacly, but http://www.kandroid.org/online-pdk/guide/ provides some useful information about some parts of Android source code architecture.

[Steve Jones]

And the official AOSP source.android.com has a porting guide and EVEN documented data structures for the HAL.. 

The best way to get familiar is to spend some quality time with the AOSP Code base. :)

[Oleg Kazakov]

Hi Mauricio,

Thanks for your info, I am something all in one. I have to be responsible for almost all system decisions for our in car navigation project (correct name is car infotainment system) from system architecture to software architecture. Some part of system should be adapted for our requirement for performance, security, startup time, peripherals etc. You link is useful to check it out, thanks. Unfortunately the time to bring up device to mass product is getting smaller, they would have it less then 6 month and OS getting more complicated :). To match such two trends are getting more difficult with a time. 

[shridutt kothari]

HI Oleg Kazakov,

Somebody recommended Karim Yaghmour's book, "Embedded Android":

http://www.amazon.com/Embedded-Android-Porting-Extending-Customizing/dp/1449308295/httpcommonsco-20
http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920021094.do

It explains some important things which can help you.

Thanks

Shridutt Kothari

impetus Infotech Limited

shridut...@gmail.com