Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 1 | page.title=The Android Source Code |
| 2 | @jd:body |
| 3 | |
| 4 | <!-- |
Clay Murphy | 768b82a | 2013-11-12 11:32:41 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 5 | Copyright 2013 The Android Open Source Project |
Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 6 | |
| 7 | Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); |
| 8 | you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. |
| 9 | You may obtain a copy of the License at |
| 10 | |
| 11 | http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software |
| 14 | distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, |
| 15 | WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. |
| 16 | See the License for the specific language governing permissions and |
| 17 | limitations under the License. |
| 18 | --> |
| 19 | <p> |
| 20 | Android is an open-source software stack created for a wide array of devices |
Clay Murphy | 5d29409 | 2013-07-15 15:11:40 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 21 | with different form factors. The primary purposes of Android are to create an |
Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 22 | open software platform available for carriers, OEMs, and developers to make |
Clay Murphy | 5d29409 | 2013-07-15 15:11:40 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 23 | their innovative ideas a reality and to introduce a successful, |
| 24 | real-world product that improves the mobile experience for users. |
Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 25 | |
Clay Murphy | 5d29409 | 2013-07-15 15:11:40 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 26 | We also wanted to make sure there was |
Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 27 | no central point of failure, where one industry player could restrict or |
| 28 | control the innovations of any other. The result is a full, production-quality |
Clay Murphy | 5d29409 | 2013-07-15 15:11:40 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 29 | consumer product with source code open for customization and porting. |
Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 30 | </p> |
| 31 | |
| 32 | |
| 33 | |
| 34 | |
| 35 | <h2 id="governance-philosophy">Governance Philosophy</h2 |
| 36 | <p>Android was originated by a group of companies known as the Open |
| 37 | Handset Alliance, led by Google. Today, many companies -- both original members |
Clay Murphy | 5d29409 | 2013-07-15 15:11:40 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 38 | of the OHA and others -- have invested heavily in Android. These companies have |
| 39 | allocated significant engineering resources to improve Android and bring Android |
| 40 | devices to market. |
Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 41 | </p> |
Clay Murphy | 5d29409 | 2013-07-15 15:11:40 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 42 | <p>The companies that have invested in Android have done so on its merits |
| 43 | because we believe an open platform is necessary. Android is |
| 44 | intentionally and explicitly an open-source -- as opposed to a free software -- |
| 45 | effort; a group of organizations with shared needs has pooled |
Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 46 | resources to collaborate on a single implementation of a shared product. |
| 47 | The Android philosophy is pragmatic, first and foremost. The objective is |
| 48 | a shared product that each contributor can tailor and customize.</p> |
| 49 | |
| 50 | <p>Uncontrolled customization can, of course, lead to incompatible |
| 51 | implementations. To prevent this, the Android Open Source Project also maintains the <a href="{@docRoot}compatibility/index.html">Android |
| 52 | Compatibility Program</a>, which spells out what it means to be "Android |
Clay Murphy | 5d29409 | 2013-07-15 15:11:40 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 53 | compatible" and what is required of device builders to achieve that status. |
Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 54 | Anyone can (and will!) use the Android source code for any purpose, and we |
Clay Murphy | 5d29409 | 2013-07-15 15:11:40 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 55 | welcome all legitimate uses. However, in order to take part in the shared |
| 56 | ecosystem of applications we are building around Android, device builders |
Robert Ly | 35f2fda | 2013-01-29 16:27:05 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 57 | must participate in the Android Compatibility Program.</p> |
| 58 | |
| 59 | <p>The Android Open Source Project is led by Google, who |
| 60 | maintains and further develops Android. |
| 61 | Although Android consists of multiple subprojects, this is strictly a |
| 62 | project management technique. We view and manage Android as a single, |
| 63 | holistic software product, not a "distribution", specification, or collection |
| 64 | of replaceable parts. Our intent is that device builders port |
| 65 | Android to a device; they don't implement a specification or curate a |
Clay Murphy | 5d29409 | 2013-07-15 15:11:40 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 66 | distribution.</p> |