1 page.title=The Android Source Code 2 @jd:body 3 4 <!-- 5 Copyright 2014 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 </p> 26 27 <p> 28 We also wanted to make sure there was 29 no central point of failure, where one industry player could restrict or 30 control the innovations of any other. The result is a full, production-quality 31 consumer product with source code open for customization and porting. 32 </p> 33 34 <div class="figure" style="width:700px"> 35 <img src="{@docRoot}images/android_framework_details.png" alt="Android framework details" height="483px" /> 36 <p class="img-caption"> 37 <strong>Figure 1.</strong> Android stack 38 </p> 39 </div> 40 41 <h2 id="governance-philosophy">Governance Philosophy</h2> 42 <p>Android was originated by a group of companies known as the Open 43 Handset Alliance, led by Google. Today, many companies -- both original members 44 of the OHA and others -- have invested heavily in Android. These companies have 45 allocated significant engineering resources to improve Android and bring Android 46 devices to market. 47 </p> 48 <p>The companies that have invested in Android have done so on its merits 49 because we believe an open platform is necessary. Android is 50 intentionally and explicitly an open source -- as opposed to a free software -- 51 effort; a group of organizations with shared needs has pooled 52 resources to collaborate on a single implementation of a shared product. 53 The Android philosophy is pragmatic, first and foremost. The objective is 54 a shared product that each contributor can tailor and customize.</p> 55 56 <p>Uncontrolled customization can, of course, lead to incompatible 57 implementations. To prevent this, the Android Open Source Project also maintains the <a href="{@docRoot}compatibility/index.html">Android 58 Compatibility Program</a>, which spells out what it means to be "Android 59 compatible" and what is required of device builders to achieve that status. 60 Anyone can (and will!) use the Android source code for any purpose, and we 61 welcome all legitimate uses. However, in order to take part in the shared 62 ecosystem of applications we are building around Android, device builders 63 must participate in the Android Compatibility Program.</p> 64 65 <p>The Android Open Source Project is led by Google, who 66 maintains and further develops Android. 67 Although Android consists of multiple subprojects, this is strictly a 68 project management technique. We view and manage Android as a single, 69 holistic software product, not a "distribution", specification, or collection 70 of replaceable parts. Our intent is that device builders port 71 Android to a device; they don't implement a specification or curate a 72 distribution.</p> 73
