1 page.title=The Android Source Code 2 @jd:body 3 4 <!-- 5 Copyright 2010 The Android Open Source Project 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 21 with different form factors. The primary purposes of Android are to create an 22 open software platform available for carriers, OEMs, and developers to make 23 their innovative ideas a reality and to introduce a successful, 24 real-world product that improves the mobile experience for users. 25 26 We also wanted to make sure there was 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 29 consumer product with source code open for customization and porting. 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 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. 41 </p> 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 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 53 compatible" and what is required of device builders to achieve that status. 54 Anyone can (and will!) use the Android source code for any purpose, and we 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 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 66 distribution.</p> 67
