Develop Bugs

[TUT] Dynamic init - to change your init process easily - experimental

many of you, including me, may find that it's time consuming to rebuild the kernel even for minor changes to init.rc, or to modify the init itself. with this small tip, you can change the init process on boot time and perhaps to perform different init processes easily.
reminded and inspired by sztupy's work, i change the whole init for easy customization and be able to let the init to process in a more dynamic way (for the term 'dynamic', it's borrowed from the internet - dynamic and static internet web pages)
let's start
the original file structure on the root looks like this (extracted):
init.rc
init
where init will be processed on boot time, and init.rc will be read to create dir/mount and services, etc
with dynamic init, the root will look like (sample):
init --> myinit.sh
init.original
myinit.sh
the original init is moved/renamed to init.original, with a symlink created named init pointing to a shell script or program, in this case, myinit.sh. a sample myinit.sh looks like this (u need to have a busybox resides on /sbin in this case):
#!/sbin/busybox sh
mount -t ext2 -o rw,noatime,nodiratime /dev/block/stl9 /system
mount -t rfs -o rw,noatime,nodiratime /dev/block/stl9 /system
/system/scripts/init/myinit2.sh
exec /init.original
###end###
in this example, the /system will be mounted, by attempt to mout it as ext2 first (it wont mount if /system is not in ext2), followed by mounting it as rfs. note that only one mount command line will be succeessfully performed here (PS -o remount is needed for remounting the system, so no need to worry the system will be mounted as ext2 first, and then mounted again as rfs).
i also added a file called myinit2.sh under /system/scripts/init/ (you can choose other dir but make sure u've mounted it), which contains some commmands you want to perform like a while loop, etc (becareful, if a infinite loop is used in myinit2.sh, append a "&" at the end to run it in background, so it will look like:
/system/scripts/init/myinit2.sh &
and finally, call init.original (if you wish)
the reason i call it dynamic is, the original init can be replaced or generated base on certain criteria in myinit.sh or myinit2.sh. below is an example which the original init is completely replaced in myinit2.sh:
#!/sbin/busybox sh
mount -o remount,rw rootfs /
rm /init.rc
rm /init.original
ln -s /system/scripts/init/myinit.rc /init.rc
ln -s /system/scripts/init/myinit /init.original
### end
since root is mounted as rw, the original init and init.rc can be removed and link to your own init and init.rc
that's it! you can now modify init and init.rc without the need to recmpile the kernel again
some possible usages:
- add/remove/modify services contained in init.rc
- change the filesystem for specific mount point in init.rc like switching from rfs to ext2 or jfs
- remove repeating dir creations in init.rc, and much more..
hope this help!
PS do it at ur own risk

Have you tried this? I don't think it's going to work without 'mknod' before doing the mounts.

RyanZA said:
Have you tried this? I don't think it's going to work without 'mknod' before doing the mounts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
I don need mknod

Forcing apps to move to storage

I didn't see the mention of this on this forum, but if one has root one can force apps to move to internal storage (or SD if that's where one's device stores them), even if the developers didn't allow it. Just use adb shell or a terminal emulator and then do:
Code:
su
cd /data/app
ls
Now find the name of your app (app.name.apk, say). Then:
Code:
cp app.name.apk /sdcard
pm install -r -s /sdcard/app.name.apk
And if it works fine, you can clean up by deleting /sdcard/app.name.apk
Would be easy to make an app that does that. I like working with a command-line, so I made a little shell script: force-storage.sh:
Code:
mkdir /sdcard/tmp 2> /dev/null
for x in $* ; do
echo Forcing $x to storage
cp $x /sdcard/tmp
pm install -r -s /sdcard/tmp/$x
done
Here is a list of the kinds of apps you shouldn't do this with.
My apologies if everyone already knows this.

A bonus/downside (depending on how you think about it) is that the apps so moved won't automatically start on boot. Seems to work with Amazon App Store and Appslib (I didn't try with Market).
And of course (and I assume this is well-known) you can set all apps to install by default to sdcard / internal storage even without root:
Code:
pm setInstallLocation 2
(Do pm setInstallLocation 0 to return to the default.) I think there's an app that does that.

As part of my learning how to program on Android, I made a little app to force-move apps to SD/internal-storage. Needs root. Be careful what apps you move--some won't work so well when moved.

[Q] Utilize space on /system partition for Dalvik cache or apps

Hi guys, gonna be clear as possible,
using custom sense rom, free space /system partition will be around 700mb and AOSP rom will be around 1GB, any tick of your mind to utilize this space to install more apps?
Before this, i create new folder on /system and copy several .apk to it. then using symlink to linking them on /data/app.. however im getting tired as i need to re-create symlink everytime after flashing new rom.
Now i think its better to utilize it with moving dalvik cache directory to /system partition. Last night i try using symbolic link implementation for the idea, but its goes wrong, then I try adding script to init.d but nothing happen. - wrong script maybe.
Did anyone have the same idea??, or can you guys help me to create script to move dalvik cache to /system partition? :silly:

I'm sure I used to do this (move apps) with Titanium Backup on my Desire HD.

I have used this.. have to reboot the phone a few times.. to get it to totally work.. seems to duplicate certain system entries in the data partition..
Needs a tweak here n there I think.. stumped though
Why no one has tried to implement this yet, I dunno... Given the space System partition can have.
Note; system partition has to be mounted as RW on boot..
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
echo "++++ DALVIK 2 SYSTEM STARTING ++++"
mount -o remount,rw /system
if [ ! -d /system/dalvik-cache ]
then
mkdir /system/dalvik-cache
chown 1000:1000 /system/dalvik-cache
chmod 775 /system/dalvik-cache
fi
if [ -L /data/dalvik-cache ]
then
rm -f /data/dalvik-cache
mkdir /data/dalvik-cache
chown 1000:1000 /data/dalvik-cache
chmod 775 /data/dalvik-cache
elif [ ! -d /data/dalvik-cache ]
then
mkdir /data/dalvik-cache
chown 1000:1000 /data/dalvik-cache
chmod 775 /data/dalvik-cache
elif [ -d /data/dalvik-cache ]
then
for filename in /data/dalvik-cache/*
do
if [ -L $filename ]
then
rm -f $filename
fi
done
mv /data/dalvik-cache/* /system/dalvik-cache/
fi
mount -o bind /system/dalvik-cache/ /data/dalvik-cache/

[HOW TO] add extra +700mb to Internal memory storage +600-900MB from /system

[Tweak root] add extra +700mb to Internal memory storage from /cache & +600-900MB from /system folders.
just run terminal with root & paste code
su
chmod -R 777 /cache
mkdir /cache/"your-program-folder"
mount -o bind /cache/"your-program-folder" /storage/sdcard0/"your-program-folder"
add extra +600mb (+900mb if you have LiteRom) from /system folder.
su
mkdir /system/share
chmod -R 777 /system/share
mount -o bind /system/share /storage/sdcard0/sharе
before you can write to /storage/sdcard/share mount it RW
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
after every reboot do it again. how add script to startup folder, any Idea?
all work great. I have 4.5GB + 700MB + 800MB internal storage for my music and maps.
But you cant use any OTA updates because your download /cache folder filed now. Remove all data before update
rm -R /system/share/*
rm -R /cache/*

Re: [Tweak root] add extra +700mb to Internal memory storage
Are you sure you got these commands right? And why don't you just make a script to automatically run these commands at boot? You know, so you don't have to keep running the commands over and over? And you have the work "program" spelled wrong. Its spelled with only 1 "m". Program, not programm.
Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

Re: [Tweak root] add extra +700mb to Internal memory storage
So what happens if you are using your whole internal sd including this 700 megs and you reboot? Does the system freak out?
Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

Update
sniperkill
absolutely right. And why don't you just make a script to automatically run these commands at boot?
How, do it, init.rc not work.
Clienterror said:
So what happens if you are using your whole internal sd including this 700 megs and you reboot? Does the system freak out?
Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
everything will be fine, just live little more space on /cache (100mb at least)
UPDATE 1st post. add extra +600mb (+900mb if you have LiteRom) from /system folder. Now I have 6GB internal storage for my music and maps.
su
mkdir /system/share
chmod -R 777 /system/share
mount -o bind /system/share /storage/sdcard0/share
before you can write to /storage/sdcard/shear mount it RW
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
But you cant use any OTA updates because your download /cache folder filed now. Remove all before update
rm -R /system/share/*
rm -R /cache/*

serraxer said:
sniperkill
absolutely right. And why don't you just make a script to automatically run these commands at boot?
How, do it, init.rc not work.
everything will be fine, just live little more space on /cache (100mb at least)
UPDATE 1st post. add extra +600mb (+900mb if you have LiteRom) from /system folder. Now I have 6GB internal storage for my music and maps.
su
mkdir /system/share
chmod -R 777 /system/share
mount -o bind /system/share /storage/sdcard0/share
before you can write to /storage/sdcard/shear mount it RW
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
But you cant use any OTA updates because your download /cache folder filed now. Remove all before update
rm -R /system/share/*
rm -R /cache/*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, make a new folder on your sdcard, I used root explorer. I called it "67tweaks", I then zipped up the folder, then navigated to my zipped folder and I removed the .zip extension (doing it this way allowed me to make a new text document, but theres prolly an easier way, but this is the way i used) and then I long pressed it so it would let me open it up as a text document. I deleted some jibberish that was inside, I then started with #!/system/bin/sh, then space, then pasted your commands under the space and I then placed the file under system/etc/init.d folder. Now every time I boot up, the script gets run. You can also use an app like "ROM toolbox" and go to scripts and just create a new script and select it to run at boot, or you can use SMmanager and create a script to run at boot.

serraxer said:
sniperkill
absolutely right. And why don't you just make a script to automatically run these commands at boot?
How, do it, init.rc not work.
I'm no dev so I wouldn't be able to make a script to run at boot, but if you don't have init.d support you can add a script to your init.qcom.post_boot.sh file in system/etc folder and it should run at boot.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Looks right to me.

Thanks for the info. I am learning to love my M more and more.

thinks, I'm going to have a try.

serraxer said:
[Tweak root] add extra +700mb to Internal memory storage from /cache & +600-900MB from /system folders.
just run terminal with root & paste code
su
chmod -R 777 /cache
mkdir /cache/"your-program-folder"
mount -o bind /cache/"your-program-folder" /storage/sdcard0/"your-program-folder"
add extra +600mb (+900mb if you have LiteRom) from /system folder.
su
mkdir /system/share
chmod -R 777 /system/share
mount -o bind /system/share /storage/sdcard0/sharе
before you can write to /storage/sdcard/share mount it RW
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
after every reboot do it again. how add script to startup folder, any Idea?
all work great. I have 4.5GB + 700MB + 800MB internal storage for my music and maps.
But you cant use any OTA updates because your download /cache folder filed now. Remove all data before update
rm -R /system/share/*
rm -R /cache/*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cut and pasted this exactly and it doesn't work. Can you please reply with exact sequences. I keep getting mkdir failed for /cache/your-program-folder, File exists

Will this work on a bionic?
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA Premium HD app

[HOWTO] Use extSdCard as Camera folder on Android 4.3

I recently (successfully) upgraded my Samsung i9505 with Janjan's Pure Google ROM version 4.3-2.1. While everything worked like a charm, I was frustrated with the little space I had in /sdcard, whereas I have a 32Gb sdcard plugged on that smartphone.
Android is GNU/Linux based, and the shell commands provided by most ROMs know how to handle mountpoints, especially mount -o bind, which permits to mount a directory on another directory. This is the trick you can use in order to have a lot more space within your DCIM directory:
Code:
# mkdir /storage/extSdCard/DCIM
# mount -o bind /storage/extSdCard/DCIM /sdcard/DCIM
There you go:
Code:
# df|grep DCIM
/mnt/shell/emulated/0/DCIM 29.5G 11.8G 17.7G 32768
Much better
Those commands are to be used with the root user. Obviously, you can use this trick for every other directory you'd like to extend. In order to make that mount point permanent, use the ROM's init script capabilities, for example with Janjan's ROM:
Code:
# mount -o remount,rw /system
# cat > /etc/init.d/99local
#!/system/bin/sh
/system/bin/mount -o bind /storage/extSdCard/DCIM /sdcard/DCIM
^D # press Control-D here
# chmod 755 /etc/init.d/99local
# mount -o remount,ro /system
Enjoy more space!