1 page.title=Android Compatibility 2 @jd:body 3 4 <!-- 5 Copyright 2015 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 20 <p>Android's purpose is to establish an open platform for developers to build innovative apps. 21 The Android Compatibility program defines the technical details of the Android platform and provides 22 tools used by OEMs to ensure that developers' apps run on a variety of devices. The Android SDK 23 provides built-in tools that developers use to clearly state the device features their apps 24 require. And Google Play shows apps only to those devices that can properly run them. 25 </p> 26 27 <h2 id="why-build-compatible-android-devices">Why build compatible Android devices?</h2> 28 <h3 id="users-want-a-customizable-device">Users want a customizable device.</h3> 29 <p>A mobile phone is a highly personal, always-on, always-present gateway to 30 the Internet. We haven't met a user yet who didn't want to customize it by 31 extending its functionality. That's why Android was designed as a robust 32 platform for running aftermarket applications.</p> 33 <h3 id="developers-outnumber-us-all">Developers outnumber us all.</h3> 34 <p>No device manufacturer can hope to write all the software that a person could 35 conceivably need. We need third-party developers to write the apps users want; 36 so the Android Open Source Project aims to make it as easy and open as 37 possible for developers to build apps.</p> 38 <h3 id="everyone-needs-a-common-ecosystem">Everyone needs a common ecosystem.</h3> 39 <p>Every line of code developers write to work around a particular phone's bug 40 is a line of code that didn't add a new feature. The more compatible phones 41 there are, the more apps there will be. By building a fully compatible Android 42 device, you benefit from the huge pool of apps written for Android, while 43 increasing the incentive for developers to build more of those apps.</p> 44 <h2 id="android-compatibility-is-free-and-its-easy">Android compatibility is free, and it's easy.</h2> 45 <p>If you are building a mobile device, you can follow these steps to make 46 sure your device is compatible with Android. For more details about the 47 Android compatibility program in general, see <a href="overview.html">the program overview</a>.</p> 48 <p>Building a compatible device is a three-step process:</p> 49 <ol> 50 <li> 51 <p><em>Obtain the <a href="{@docRoot}source/index.html">Android software source 52 code</a></em>. 53 This is the source code for the Android platform that you port to your hardware.</p> 54 </li> 55 <li> 56 <p><em>Comply with the <a href="{@docRoot}compatibility/android-cdd.pdf">Android 57 Compatibility Definition Document (CDD)</a></em>. 58 The CDD enumerates the software and hardware requirements of a compatible Android device.</p> 59 </li> 60 <li> 61 <p><em>Pass the <a href="{@docRoot}compatibility/cts-intro.html">Compatibility 62 Test Suite (CTS)</a></em>. 63 Use the CTS as an ongoing aid to compatibility during the development process.</p> 64 </li> 65 </ol> 66 67 <p>After complying with the CDD and passing the CTS, your device is now Android 68 compatible. Android apps in the ecosystem will have a consistent experience on 69 your device.</p> 70 71 <h2 id="licensing-gms">Licensing Google Mobile Services</h2> 72 <p>If you've built an Android compatible device, you may wish to inquire about 73 licensing Googles proprietary suite of apps that run on top of Android - 74 Google Mobile Services (GMS, which include Google Play, YouTube, Google Maps, 75 Gmail, and more). Google Mobile Services is not part of the Android Open Source 76 Project and is available only through a license with Google. Please visit the 77 contact us section for more information on how to inquire about a GMS 78 license.</p> 79
