Google confirms Android development will soon become fully private

[DragonSlayer101]

In a nutshell: Google has confirmed that it will now develop Android privately as part of its efforts to streamline the development process. However, the company has assured users and developers that the operating system will remain open source, and it will continue to release the source code for new Android versions.

Google told Android Authority that it will move all Android development to its internal branches next week, marking a significant shift from the system that has been in place for nearly 16 years. Currently, part of the development occurs on the public AOSP Gerrit, while the rest is done privately.

While the AOSP branch remains accessible to everyone, Google's internal branch is available only to companies with a Google Mobile Services licensing agreement. AOSP is open source, whereas GMS is not. Instead, Google licenses GMS to device manufacturers for free, provided they adhere to specific terms and conditions. Some of the companies with a GMS agreement include Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus.

According to Google, its current two-pronged development approach creates challenges for both the company and its partners. Development on AOSP Gerrit often lags behind Google's internal branch, leading to delays in rolling out new features, fixing bugs, and addressing security vulnerabilities. Additionally, merging code between the two branches reportedly introduces errors – a problem the new policy aims to resolve.

Google asserts that the change is not intended to hinder third-party developers but rather to streamline the development process. The company maintains that it will continue accepting code contributions to AOSP from external developers while retaining full control over what is merged to ensure "the vitality of Android as a platform and as an open-source project."

As Android Authority notes, components such as the build system, update engine, Bluetooth stack, virtualization framework, and SELinux configuration are currently developed as part of the AOSP stack. However, starting next week, these will move to Google's internal branches. As a result, the source code for these components will only be released when Google publishes a new branch containing the changes.

For end users, the policy shift is unlikely to have any noticeable impact. However, developers may face some inconvenience due to fewer public source code releases for certain Android components. That said, Android updates should remain unaffected, as most manufacturers with a GMS agreement will continue to have uninterrupted access to Google's internal branch.

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Google confirms Android development will soon become fully private

 

[NumberNine]

Google has been too poor to afford ethics for about 16 years.

 

[VariableSpike]

Suuuure, because anyone will believe google that it will stay open source, hopefully they get told to unchain it as a result of the anti-trust result against them as its certainly doing no one any favours

 

[toooooot]

Google has been too poor to afford ethics for about 16 years.

It all became a little too obvious when they retired "dont be evil" motto

 

[winjer]

Alphabet needs to be split, as soon as possible.
Not just Chrome, but also Android.
It's clear that they do not have good intentions, at all.

 

[AlexIL]

HarmonyOS by Huawei
Android by Google
iOS by Apple

The most attractive of them all is Nokia, the buttons one.

 

[hahahanoobs]

Whatever it takes to combat the fragmentation I'm all for.

 

[nismo91]

I'm an Android user but Google has lost its way now, thanks to the duopoly with Apple in the mobile OS sector.

when Android first started like 15 years ago Google actually made sure Android is not only free but accessible to everyone so they practically give Android to every OEM so people do have some choices. even Blackberry gave up their own BBOS for Android. at that time you could get any phone from any manufacturers and Android will just run, you don't worry about yearly updates, legacy app incompatibility and so on.

now Google wants licensing money so it can cutoff certain OEM (like Huawei) from using their OS. they also made sure old apps don't run on the newer OS so you are forced to upgrade. how the table have turned. I used to despise iOS locked ecosystem but it seems that Android is heading to that direction. in fact I don't mind getting an iOS device now, not because I find them attractive, but because I hate what Android has become.

 

[p51d007]

Google has been "locking down" Android little by little. Eventually, it will end up like Apple.

 

[guillejp]

"That said, Android updates should remain unaffected, most manufacturers with a GMS agreement will continue to have uninterrupted access to Google's internal branch."

Before all of you get too paranoid. There it is.

 

[erickmendes]

Alphabet needs to be split, as soon as possible.
Not just Chrome, but also Android.
It's clear that they do not have good intentions, at all.

Does any big tech company have any good intention?

 

[DrSuess]

It all became a little too obvious when they retired "dont be evil" motto

I don't think they completely retired the motto, I think they just dropped the "don't", now it is just "be evil"

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I don't think they completely retired the motto, I think they just dropped the "don't", now it is just "be evil"

I think they changed it to "dont be evil, be stupid".

"That said, Android updates should remain unaffected, most manufacturers with a GMS agreement will continue to have uninterrupted access to Google's internal branch."

Before all of you get too paranoid. There it is.

Uh huh. Hey, remember when SD cards had their ability to install apps to them removed because "security"? And they would totally not make it harder to use SD cards to do things like host your photos?

Imagine trusting the leopard AFTER it has eaten your face.

 

[guillejp]

I think they changed it to "dont be evil, be stupid".
Uh huh. Hey, remember when SD cards had their ability to install apps to them removed because "security"? And they would totally not make it harder to use SD cards to do things like host your photos?

Imagine trusting the leopard AFTER it has eaten your face.

Not the same

 

[AnilD]

So in short: Android is still open source… just not developed in the open anymore. Totally different. Like saying the cake is free but you can’t see the recipe until it’s out of the oven.

 

[AnilD]

Does any big tech company have any good intention?

Of course, just not Google.

 

[RudyBob]

Can't have folks looking to close at what you are trying to sneak in

 

[yannus]

Alphabet needs to be split, as soon as possible.
Not just Chrome, but also Android.
It's clear that they do not have good intentions, at all.

Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft also need to be split. They have no good intentions, at all.

 

[Cabuzzi]

Google has been "locking down" Android little by little. Eventually, it will end up like Apple.

Android is so far from Apple (and walled-garden), this will never happen. It's easy to "say" Android will eventually be like Apple, but by doing that, they would choke out all the places Android IS used (think: not just mobile phones).

 

[Cabuzzi]

Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft also need to be split. They have no good intentions, at all.

I think everyone here yelling for government intervention in the form of regulation and antitrust should be more wary of what the effects of those do to the market. Regulatory action should be the last straw, not the first solution.

 

[yannus]

I think everyone here yelling for government intervention in the form of regulation and antitrust should be more wary of what the effects of those do to the market. Regulatory action should be the last straw, not the first solution.

It was a little bit sarcastic and sincere at the same time. In reality, open source and user's education are the only real solutions on a global scale. The whole world is collapsing and those who can't see it are blind. Corporations and privately owned governments (all governments) are at the center of this collapse.

 

[Cabuzzi]

It was a little bit sarcastic and sincere at the same time. In reality, open source and user's education are the only real solutions on a global scale. The whole world is collapsing and those who can't see it are blind. Corporations and privately owned governments (all governments) are at the center of this collapse.

I can't 100% disagree with you. Whether it's disaster due to overreach of government, or disaster due to the excess of private company board members, it is the same root cause.... greed and desire for power.