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Google Opens Up Android Codebase

rsk writes "It's official: Google has Open Sourced Android. The source code can be downloaded from Android's Git repository. Bugs are handled at the Google Code Android project page with documentation being handled by a collection of Google Site pages. One of the more interesting aspects of Android seems to be the seemingly Eclipse Foundation-like organization of the project, welcoming both Individual and Commercial developers into the Android development pot. One of the benefits of this arrangement is securing the existence of the project by involving commercial interests and their money in the process ... this is also one of the downsides; having commercial entities charter and lead features of a platform that their own commercial offerings provide 'enhanced' versions of, sometimes leaving the free offering always lacking in one obvious way or another. It's hard to say at this point how involved Google will be in this process, or the Open Handset Alliance in general, with managing the health of sub-projects under the Android umbrella as time goes on."

12 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Eh, big deal by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Been to a P2P site or a 7-11 in Hong Kong recently? The source code for everything is 'open'...

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    stuff |
  2. Re:Allowing "Banned" Features by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Funny

    They also had to cut stereo bluetooth audio, why would t-mobile want to cut that?

    So you would have to buy one phone for each ear.

    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  3. Linux vs Ubuntu by buchner.johannes · · Score: 5, Funny

    To build the Android source under Linux, you will need Ubuntu.

    wtf? How do I emerge that?

    --
    NB: The message above might reflect my opinion right now, but not necessarily tomorrow or next year.
    1. Re:Linux vs Ubuntu by John+Hasler · · Score: 4, Funny

      It isn't true. I'm sure it will build fine under Debian.

      --
      Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    2. Re:Linux vs Ubuntu by kylegordon · · Score: 2, Funny

      wtf? How do I emerge that?

      Slowly...

  4. OH SNAP by mrsteveman1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "To build the Android files in a Mac OS environment, you need an Intel/x86 machine. The Android build system and tools do not support the obsolete PowerPC architecture."

    quite the burn there

  5. Re:Let the porting begin! by FunkyELF · · Score: 5, Funny

    port it to the iPhone

  6. I need more features by damn_registrars · · Score: 4, Funny

    Come on, I don't think this phone does enough yet. If they can't make a phone that can run SETI@Home while I play Duke Nukem Forever, then I'm not interested!

    And there's no word on its ability to make my dinner, either. What good is a cell phone if it can't deep fry?

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  7. Re:2.1 GB?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's extremely well documented:

    /*

    ADD FUNCTION
    Created by KSP on the morning of the sixth day of the eleventh month of the year one thousand nine hunderd and ninety eight (Gregorian calendar)

    */

    /*

    This function takes 2 integers, by value, and adds them up, returning the result as one number!

    */

    int add(int a, int b) {
    /*Here we start our function*/
    /*The line below will be executed when this function is called*/
    /*Declare a temporary variable to store the result*/

          int c;
    /*Initialize it with the value zero (0)*/

          c = 0;
    /*Doublecheck that c is really zero*/

          if (c == 0) {
    /*All good so far... */
    /*Let's add them up! */
    //c = b + a;
    /*20080109 - JDS: above line commented out. The calling function CLEARLY wanted to sum up a plus b. NOT the other way around... I'm surrounded by aholes! Sheesh!*/

                c = a + b;

          } else {
    /*DANGER! HERE BE DRAGONS!*/
    /*For some reason our temporary variable lost its initial value. Oh my Lord! We need some error handling here. Perhaps we could raise an error, telling whoever called this function that something went berserk. Or maybe we can silently just return zero. I like that! This will certainly be better for the other programmer, after all, he won't have to deal with error catching, etc... Let's make life easier for everybody!!! Actually, I like the number 3 better. Ever since I was a kid, it's been my lucky number. I'll return that! I'm so good, I'm BATMAN!.*/

                c = 3;

          }
    /*Here's where we return the final value...*/

          return c;

    }

  8. No windows instructions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    BWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!111oneoneone!!1one

    The instructions on getting the source don't include how to do it under windows.

  9. Re:Let the porting begin! by Chaos+Incarnate · · Score: 2, Funny

    You might be able to port the framework to the iPhone, but you could never release it via the App Store.

    --
    Benford's Corollary to Clarke's Law: "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."
  10. Re:Let the porting begin! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...cancellation prize...

    Word Nazi says you should try using words you know you know instead of ones you think you know. Your consolation prize is a reprimand from an A/C.