Linux kernel patches for Android

[Scott W]

Hello,

What is the recommended way to extract the Android kernel patches from
a given kernel version in the android.git.kernel.org/kernel/common.git
tree, so that these patches can then be applied against the same
version of a customized kernel?

I would think this is a commonly performed (and well documented)
operation, but there seem to be many different recommendations and
assertions, and as many false leads, floating around.

Since Android /init is quite sensitive to a properly patched kernel,
this is an important issue in getting a port running. Definitive
information would be really helpful here!

Thanks!

[Ashwin Bihari]

It would be great if Google would actually create this patchset or at
least indicate a list of files/directories are that modified as part
of the Android changes..

The fastest thing to do is to take a particular Android Kernel and
then the Kernel.org equivalent of the same Kernel and start with a
diff of that. That should most likely get you the bulk of the
patchset..

With all of my ports so far (2.6.29 and 2.6.32) for Donut and
Eclair..I've found it's easier to just take my BSP support and shove
that into the Android Kernel than take the Android support and make it
work on my modified Kernel..

-- Ashwin

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[Scott W]

Thanks, Ashwan!

I agree that this "diff against stock kernel" approach seems most
straightforward, and is likely the approach i will need to take.

However, (directed toward any Google Android folks monitoring this)
this approach is risky and not deterministic for obvious reasons. It
would seem that this process would be lots easier if the Android Linux
kernel tree had a "stock kernel" branch so a git diff would be easy to
do. (Of course, it would be even better if this two branch approach
was accompanied by something in the Documentation/android.txt file
that said "To patch a 2.6.<nn> kernel with Android patches, do the
following ..."

-Scott

[VeNoMouS]

I dont suppose you have the telechips android bsp?

[Chih-Wei]

The android kernel repository does branch from vanilla kernel.

If you use git merge-base, you will find android-2.6.29
branches from stock v2.6.29, and android-2.6.32 branches
from v2.6.32 and then merged with v2.6.32.9.
android-2.6.35 branches from 2.6.35-rc6 and merged with v2.6.35.
Besides, you can find vanilla tag since v2.6.11 to v2.6.32.

This is not a secret. You just need to get familiar with git.