Re: [gentoo-soc] Application for Google Summer of Code 2018 - Mishal Roy.

[Mishal Roy]

Hi,

Yes I will download the Xiaomi boot image by ebuild.

I had proposed this small project so that it can be successfully completed
within the time frame of three months.
Eliminating the concept of boot image is feasible.
If you recommend, I would like to extend my proposal by adding it.
Aboot the application bootloader of Redmi Note 4 reads boot image and loads
kernel+ramdisk into RAM.
On the other hand, bootloader on computer reads kernel and ramdisk ,and
loads those into RAM.
We can make Aboot function like a computer bootloader by editing its source
code [1].
However we will require Xiaomi's permission  to allow us install the newly
built Aboot because Aboot gets checked by SBL(Secondary boot loader) [2].

I recently got familiar with basics of Gentoo.
I have been using Ubuntu since 2 years.
I have Ubuntu on my desktop computer and laptop.
I use Ubuntu for compiling ASM, C and MATLAB codes.
I also use it for running Guitarix,Rakarrack ( virtual guitar amplifiers)
and Audacity sound recorder.
Through Ubuntu I got to know about initramfs as well as list of services
that are started by sysvinit and upstart.
i.e. udev, pulseaudio , x-sever, lightdm, dbus, cron etc.
I have experimented with these sevices by starting and stopping.
I have not contributed to any community or solved bugs so far.
I have Dell Venue 7 3740 which is an Intel powered Android device.This
device is my main device for Android development.
https://opensource.dell.com/releases/Venue_7_3740_
Merrifield/developer-edition/A195/

1. https://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/SRM-HOWTO/aboot.html
2. https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/info-
android-device-partitions-basic-t3586565/amp/

On Thu, Mar 22, 2018 at 11:44 AM, Benda Xu <heroxbd@g.o> wrote:

> Hi Mishal,
>
> Overall, I wish you could be more ambitious on what you will achieve in
> 3 months.  The present scope of 1 kernel ebuild is too limited.
>
> The manuscript structure is well organized.  Below are some minor
> comments.
>
> Mishal Roy <roymishal210@×××××.com> writes:
>
> > I have drafted a proposal for Google Summer of Code 2018 and attached
> > it in the form of PDF.
> >
> > Please go through it and give me necessary feedback.
>
> > Android Kernel Update using Gentoo on Android.
>
> > Overview :
>
> > The computing power of Android devices have started rivaling laptops
> > and desktop computers.  Hence compile time and build time on Android
> > devices have improved.
>
> > Gentoo Prefix on Android devices will bring easy kernel updates.
>
> > This project aims at updating kernel on an Android device by compiling
> > and installing it with the help of Gentoo Prefix.
>
> > Objective :
>
> > This project will eliminate the need of a secondary device like
> > computer for compiling Android kernels.
>
> > User without having kernel building experience can easily get the
> > kernel of his Android device built and installed by running an ebuild
> > script.
>
> > Deliverables :
>
> > 2018.02.25 64 bit tarball from [1] will be used .  Android Device to
> > be used in the project is Xiaomi Redmi Note 4.
>
> > In this project an ebuild script will be developed which will do the
> > following
>
> > Download kernel source code of the device from [2], boot image
> > pack/unpack tools from [3] and boot image from [4].
>
> > Compile Kernel and its modules.
>
> > Unpack the boot image using code from [3] and install kernel modules
> > into ramdisk.
>
> > Create a boot image[3] with the recently compiled kernel and edited
> > ramdisk.  Install the boot image by writing it to
> > /dev/block/mmcblk0p21.
>
> > Timeline :
>
> > Before Phase 1 Evaluation Deadline kernel source code will be
> > downloaded and compiled using GCC Compiler of Gentoo Android
> > Prefix. Built kernel will be tested on the Android device.  Thereafter
> > an ebuild will be written that downloads kernel source code , tools
> > and boot image
>
> Are you going to download the Xiaomi boot images by the ebuild?
>
> > as well as compiles kernel and its modules.
>
> > Before Phase 2 Evaluation Deadline ebuild script will be extended by
> > adding code to unpack boot image, install kernel modules into the
> > ramdisk and create a new boot image with recently compiled kernel and
> > edited ramdisk.
>
> I wish we could eliminate the concept of boot image for daily use of
> Android, just as normal computers.
>
> > efore Phase 3 Evaluation Deadline a backup of the boot image present
> > in /dev/block/mmcblk0p21 will be created. The ebuild will be competed
> > by adding final code to install the new boot image.  Finally, the
> > ebuild will be executed.
>
> > Resources :
> > 1. https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Project:Android/tarball
> > 2.https://github.com/MiCode/Xiaomi_Kernel_OpenSource/tree/mido-m-oss
> > 3.https://github.com/osm0sis/mkbootimg
> > 4.https://androidfilebox.com/app/stock-miui-recovery-image-
> for-redmi-note-4-snapdragon/
>
> > About Me :
>
> > I am Mishal Roy, a third year Electronics and Telecommunication
> > engineering student of Atharva College of Engineering ,Mumbai ,
> > India. I have keen interest in Operating Systems. I am familiar with
> > Opearating Systems like Ubuntu, Gentoo and Android.
>
> Please specify to what extent you are familiar with Ubuntu, Gentoo and
> Android.
>
> For example, how many years have you been using it?  Where did you
> install Ubuntu and Gentoo?  What do you use them for?  Have you made any
> contribution to the community?  Do you have links to your previous
> Android ROM development projects?
>
> > I am well versed in programming languages like C, C++, Java, x86
> > Assembly and Bash.
>
> Nice.  Do you have code snippets publicly available?
>
> > I am very focused, organised and love to take challenges.
>
> Cheers,
> Benda
>
>