81 lines
3.6 KiB
HTML
81 lines
3.6 KiB
HTML
<html devsite>
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<head>
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<title>The Android Source Code</title>
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<meta name="project_path" value="/_project.yaml" />
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<meta name="book_path" value="/_book.yaml" />
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</head>
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<body>
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<!--
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Copyright 2017 The Android Open Source Project
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Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
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you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
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You may obtain a copy of the License at
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http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
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Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
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distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
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WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
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See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
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limitations under the License.
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-->
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<p>
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Android is an open source software stack created for a wide array of devices
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with different form factors. The primary purposes of Android are to create an
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open software platform available for carriers, OEMs, and developers to make
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their innovative ideas a reality and to introduce a successful,
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real-world product that improves the mobile experience for users.
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</p>
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<p>
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We also wanted to make sure there was
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no central point of failure, where one industry player could restrict or
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control the innovations of any other. The result is a full, production-quality
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consumer product with source code open for customization and porting.
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</p>
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<div style="width:700px">
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<img src="/images/android_framework_details.png" alt="Android framework details" height="483px" />
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<p class="img-caption">
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<strong>Figure 1.</strong> Android stack
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</p>
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</div>
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<h2 id="governance-philosophy">Governance Philosophy</h2>
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<p>Android was originated by a group of companies known as the Open
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Handset Alliance, led by Google. Today, many companies -- both original members
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of the OHA and others -- have invested heavily in Android. These companies have
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allocated significant engineering resources to improve Android and bring Android
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devices to market.
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</p>
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<p>The companies that have invested in Android have done so on its merits
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because we believe an open platform is necessary. Android is
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intentionally and explicitly an open source -- as opposed to a free software --
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effort; a group of organizations with shared needs has pooled
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resources to collaborate on a single implementation of a shared product.
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The Android philosophy is pragmatic, first and foremost. The objective is
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a shared product that each contributor can tailor and customize.</p>
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<p>Uncontrolled customization can, of course, lead to incompatible
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implementations. To prevent this, the Android Open Source Project also maintains the <a href="/compatibility/index.html">Android
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Compatibility Program</a>, which spells out what it means to be "Android
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compatible" and what is required of device builders to achieve that status.
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Anyone can (and will!) use the Android source code for any purpose, and we
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welcome all legitimate uses. However, in order to take part in the shared
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ecosystem of applications we are building around Android, device builders
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must participate in the Android Compatibility Program.</p>
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<p>The Android Open Source Project is led by Google, who
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maintains and further develops Android.
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Although Android consists of multiple subprojects, this is strictly a
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project management technique. We view and manage Android as a single,
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holistic software product, not a "distribution", specification, or collection
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of replaceable parts. Our intent is that device builders port
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Android to a device; they don't implement a specification or curate a
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distribution.</p>
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</body>
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</html>
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