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Mini-Distro Android Lab.

PostPosted: February 29th, 2012, 2:39 pm
by duvelr
Hi,
I'm on the preparations to create a mini-distro Linux (not really worried about the size at this stage) that provide "out of the box" a complete environment to play with android devices.

One way to make this work more useful is to include as much as posible tools that have been parched, optimised and recompiled specifically for our devices.

If you can suggest one or two packages (preferably with link to source), I'll be very grateful ;-)

Thank you.

Re: Mini-Distro Android Lab.

PostPosted: February 29th, 2012, 5:37 pm
by Charlie
Good luck with the project, I will try to help out where I can, but I am still very new to Linux

Re: Mini-Distro Android Lab.

PostPosted: February 29th, 2012, 8:24 pm
by Mitre
Hi duvier some reading here
http://rhombus-tech.net/allwinner_a10/kernel_compile/
http://rhombus-tech.net/allwinner_a10/
personally i would like the sdk pre loaded and ready to go 2.3.x GB and 4.x ICS
and would like to be able to pull the .img from the android device edit and repack and also pull the kernel from device edit and replace
an app development environment
would like tools to sign apks and zips
what sort of things do you require i'll look out for alwinner specific tools
boot from disk or even better boot from usb or sd card for the windows die hards plug it in do your dev work uplug it and back to windows sounds easy :?: :D

Re: Mini-Distro Android Lab.

PostPosted: March 2nd, 2012, 12:35 am
by duvelr
Thanks for your interest, and links :-)

For now the plan is as follows:

1. Create a image ISO bootable from CD or USB with android sdk + eclipse;
2. Add Android_Kernel development environment;
3. Add apps to allow dump rom, backup partitions... etc.

Always open to suggestions!

Re: Mini-Distro Android Lab.

PostPosted: March 2nd, 2012, 12:44 am
by Mitre
an app to pull the kernel and push it back?
an app to sign zips etc
also there is a linux tool that prompts user as to what code to use and what the code does will try to find it and post back
if you could make a distro that is newbie freindly it would remove the fear of linux people have
this is a really exciting prodject Thanks i am up for testing if you need it

Edit: found the link its an emulator with hints what do you think would it work on your distro?
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/learn-ubun ... companion/

Re: Mini-Distro Android Lab.

PostPosted: March 2nd, 2012, 2:37 am
by Mitre
lots of usefull stuff here for allwinner and you can download some allwinner A10 tools HERE
Allwinner Technology also provides SDK and BSP for the following operating systems:

Android 2.3.4 and Android 4.0
Linux 2.6.36 (Ubuntu 10.04)
WinCE 6.0

There is no information available on the SDK/BSP on their website, as is the case with many Chinese/Taiwanese companies. Some information is available on Pro A10 devkit page (above) where they show the list of documents and software packages available but without links.

However, somebody leaked part of those documents on Mediafire (Cf. XDA developer forum):

A10 SDK Document – password: ainol
A10 OEM/Partition Tools – password: ainol
New tools.tar.gz from earlier release. LiveSuite(it says use 1.05 version) and google-usb-driver at http://multiupload.com/ASIK8731IP
Novo 7 Linux Kernel source code
Novo 7 Android 2.3.4 source code at multiupload.com/9C390H1AFR andmultiupload.com/0ODULLA4CA

The GPL source code including the Linux kernel and u-boot will officially be made available at some point. Rhombus Tech has also published some instructions to build the bootloader and the kernel for the A10:

Build Linux 2.6.36 for Allwinner A10
Build U-boot for Allwinner A10


Read more: http://www.cnx-software.com/2011/12/28/ ... z1nvFDxzec

found on this site http://www.cnx-software.com/2011/12/28/ ... d-and-sdk/

Re: Mini-Distro Android Lab.

PostPosted: March 3rd, 2012, 12:43 am
by duvelr
Mitre wrote:...what do you think would it work on your distro?
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/learn-ubun ... companion/


Interesting however it seems that there are only Debian packages! (I prefer working with Arch Linux for various reasons). For now I would concentrate on having a basic distro running, so we could start playing with something that provides a stable graphical environment, connection wireless/wired, etc..

Re: Mini-Distro Android Lab.

PostPosted: March 3rd, 2012, 12:53 am
by duvelr
@Mitre WOW lovely findings!!!

Now the hard bit will be that my imagination stop flying so I can concenter in what I can do for now on planet earth!!!
:D

Re: Mini-Distro Android Lab.

PostPosted: March 3rd, 2012, 5:18 am
by Mitre
ok down to earth now comes the hard bit good luck