Google has confirmed it will move development of the Android OS to behind closed doors. Here's why it's doing it.
  • unskilled5117@feddit.orgEnglish
    21·
    6 days ago

    Tldr:

    To balance AOSP’s open nature with its product development strategy, Google maintains two primary Android branches: the public AOSP branch and its internal development branch. The AOSP branch is accessible to anyone, while Google’s internal branch is restricted to companies with a Google Mobile Services (GMS)licensing agreement.

    Beginning next week, all Android development will occur within Google’s internal branches, and the source code for changes will only be released when Google publishes a new branch containing those changes. As this is already the practice for most Android component changes, Google is simply consolidating its development efforts into a single branch.

  • clonedhuman@lemmy.worldEnglish
    171·
    6 days ago

    Fuck, looks like it’s time to start looking at more alternatives to Android phones.

    Already got an old one rooted. We need a solid Linux alternative or potentially a European company to start development.

    If any of y’all know of a good, usable platform, I’d love to know about it.

  • reddig33@lemmy.worldEnglish
    111·
    6 days ago

    Well if Google is forced to sell it off or spin Android off into its own company, we’ll see if it remains private.

  • Badabinski@kbin.earth
    8·
    6 days ago

    Possibly incorrect summary: Android is moving from a bazaar development style to a cathedral development style if I understand it correctly.

    • єχтяανɒgαηт єηzумэ@lemm.eeEnglish
      15·
      6 days ago

      You decide, here’s the TL;DR:

      • Google has confirmed to Android Authority that development of the Android operating system will soon fully happen in private.
      • Currently, Google shares some of the work it does on the public AOSP Gerrit, but moving forward, this work will all be done in private.
      • The goal for this privatization is to simplify Android OS development and not to hinder external developers, which is why Google remains committed to publishing source code to AOSP after each release.