Develop Bugs

Unencrypting xml files

I was curious if anyone knows how to unencrypt(sp?) xml files. I am trying to build a theme and wanted to browse through some xml's to see if I could change the color of the digital clock on the status bar, among other things. I tried googling to no avail. Is this even possible at this time, or am I just going to have to wait until someone figures out how to unencrypt these files? Just some general advice on how this filetype behaves in android would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advance...

Stericson is currently in the process of this. He'll let us know when he's got it.

Shoulda figured Stericson had a hand in this matter. He is extremely valuable in the development of our devices, in fact, I almost sent him a PM to ask him about this matter directly, but I wanted to gather some general info/advice from everyone. Thanks for the reply Phromik, and thanks be to Stericson too, for being such an indispensable asset to these forums.

Ahhh, many thanks....Unfortunetly, this is not easy in the least. As for right now the xmls can be decrypted, vis some tool online you can find by googling, but you can also see the xmls in plain text by downloading the source and looking through them. I am trying hard to get these done but it is not easy in the least. Much more difficult then what we are doing now.
We will get it though, no worries, just may take some time.
Stericson

Key Files Chart

A few changes:
Alright so first off after seeing that this actually got some response, I'm opening it up for other people to edit as well. Hopefully we can figure out a way to do this responsibly... But I figure a community effort on this is much more valuable (especially because my theming is a bit rusty)
Key Files Chart
I am also gonna start modelling this off of a Cyanogen build because those builds seem to be the most poplar now. Keep in mind that much of what works in one theme translates well to most others.
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Original Post:
Hey guys so here is what I've been working on.
(Use new Link Above)
Its pretty much a simple list of locations of files that are essential to theming and what they control. This is definitely meant to be simple and geared more towards beginners. I think the thing that was hardest thing for me to learn theming was finding out where specific files were. So hopefully this might help bring down the learning curve.
Plan is to keep on updating this as long as there is interest and questions that people raise. Most of this is from my, relatively, limited knowledge of theming so if anyone else wants to jump in on this, I would be more than happy to add you as a collaborator (thats right, YOU!).
Also, I have this written according to how I know Haykuro's Builds work (because thats the version I use). If things are similar enough to other builds, it shouldn't be too hard to compile a master list across all three 1.5 builds. Let me know. : )

what a great idea! I wish this would have been available to me when I started my first theme! good work

Haha thanks. I been lax bout it lately cuz it really doesnt seem to be catching on at all. Ill wait and see if anymore interest builds up before continuing to update.

Hi!
I would be interested in an update I have been wading through a ton of information, I want to make a theme myself and I have just finished setting everything up properly on my system. I have seen how many image files there are to sort through and the names would be a great help, and I think, a good idea for others too

RainCrow said:
Hey guys so here is what I've been working on.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=r_ua-t_U23ci5_oxwQ4mGrg
Its pretty much a simple list of locations of files that are essential to theming and what they control. This is definitely meant to be simple and geared more towards beginners. I think the thing that was hardest thing for me to learn theming was finding out where specific files were. So hopefully this might help bring down the learning curve.
Plan is to keep on updating this as long as there is interest and questions that people raise. Most of this is from my, relatively, limited knowledge of theming so if anyone else wants to jump in on this, I would be more than happy to add you as a collaborator (thats right, YOU!).
Also, I have this written according to how I know Haykuro's Builds work (because thats the version I use). If things are similar enough to other builds, it shouldn't be too hard to compile a master list across all three 1.5 builds. Let me know. : )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is great; although I am new to Android themes, I have extensive experience with BB themes, although that is the "apples to oranges" scenario. Plazmic of course does the grunt work in those, but I have written svg's for animation, hidden docks etc. Hopefully that will help me catch on at a faster rate compared to never having done that sort of thing. So any info you can pass along is much appreciated!- Chris aka riffman

TY
Awesome work. You just simplified SO much of what I was not looking forward to.

I would like an update as well. I am lost sometimes. lol

I'm good on what most of the .png files control, but if you could make one for the .xml files in framework-res.apk/res/layout that would be killer.

Haha wow. Five months later I'm seeing this thread actually got some feedback (And linked on the "Helpful Threads" sticky to boot). I was considering making the document an open project and just working on maintaining the structure if that sounds helpful to people because there are plenty of things that I would like to know as well (like .xmls)
EDIT: Alright I just changed it to open system so that anyone can edit it. I should probably also change the name off from Haykuro seeing as how hes out of the running now...

[Q] Can someone port this?

Hi.
I hope it is the right place to post this.
I was hoping someone could port this theme:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=574139
For the Desire or make a theme copying the style. Mostly opendesire or Defrost.
I really like the Buuf style as I use it in ubuntu and ADW launcher. But I lack the skills and the knowledge to make a theme or port it.
(I don't know which image files does what...)
Thanks in advance. And I hope you can help me.
-Simon

No one. no
Well if someone could atleast point to a tutorial on what which picture file does what I guess I will see if I can do it myself. (And maybe a little on how it works. I have ubuntu.)

Hi
Unfortunatley you aren't going to get much advise on this here, I too like a theme but it is not for my phone it's for T-Mobile Pulse.
I too wanted my theme ported as I do not have the skills, I'm fine with photoshop but its knowing which images and xml code need changing. Also photoshop PSD template would be great.
But I guess there are no tutorial or anyone willing to create one. I'm doing my own research but haven't yet found anything useful. i'll let you know if I get anywhere.
Good Luck mate but I think we are on our own with this one

Thanks for answering. And think you are right about the "on our own" part. I guess I'll have to find a tutorial on which files to edit and then make my own theme. If you find anything. Could you please give me a PM?
Sent from something using the internet.

Just thought I'd let you know that I managed to port the theme I wanted, not too bad but is not perfect stills some issues.
Shame there are no PSD templates. please see thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=7730046#post7730046

The problem is that theme is ugly and childlike no offence but it is.
This puts people off porting themes as there will be only one or two people that will actually like it and use it. What rom are you currently using? I may have a go at porting it tomorrow when i have some spare time. Not sure how much of it i would be able to do. I'm new to all this stuff too!

Lol.
I know It's childish. But so am I
I am shifting between defrost 2.9a, opendesire 3.3.0 and cyanogenmod rc2.
So if you have time, you can deside.

Rom Development / Modding How to get started?

Hey everybody,
I recently bought the galaxy nexus because I wanted to start getting into Rom Development.
I can programm Java and also programmed some simple apps..
But what I really wanted to do is to modify a Rom.
Can anybody tell me where to start? I read guides on how to compile from source and so on, but I don't know if that's what I need.
I want to add things like Notification bar quick settings to the rom.. Are there tutorials on how to develop these things?
Every help is appreciated, maybe you've got some great links for me, thanks!

00hero00 said:
Hey everybody,
I recently bought the galaxy nexus because I wanted to start getting into Rom Development.
I can programm Java and also programmed some simple apps..
But what I really wanted to do is to modify a Rom.
Can anybody tell me where to start? I read guides on how to compile from source and so on, but I don't know if that's what I need.
I want to add things like Notification bar quick settings to the rom.. Are there tutorials on how to develop these things?
Every help is appreciated, maybe you've got some great links for me, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
start with decompiling apks (SystemUI.apk and framework-res.apk for example) , if u've wrote android apps before (and u said u did), then it shouldn't be that hard to look into the .xml and .jar files. when u finish, compile the .apk back. if u've worked with Eclipse then u probably know the android structure.
Edit: Here is an example of a "ROM modification" - just posting it to give u an example..

Well first thing is first. You need to have the bare basics of Android thoroughly understood obviously. Often overlooked as a first step in this process, just learning about(different than knowing about)the Android Open Source Project first will give you a specific sense of direction, purpose, as well as an identity in the community..
So again- I don't just mean knowing about it- I mean knowing exactlyhow the whole project is structured. Read about all the different types of contributions you/anyone can make to the Android ecosystem. Are you an aesthetics kind of person who would excel at UI designs for apps or whatever; Are you a person who has a good eye for problem solving? Maybe you should be scouring source code, trying to fix little-noticed "bugs" that "bug" the hell out of you. Once you know what you want to do, make sure you find out exactly how much Google provides for you, and what your own roles/responsibilities would be in the whole scheme of things.) This should give you a good idea of where you might fit in (with your current skill-set)and hopefully, it gives you some inspiration about the direction you might want to take it in the future.
Once you do this and "find your calling", post back here, and I'm sure that others qualified in that field will be more than happy to share how they got started.
There is no substitute to just jumping in and trying things though. Everybody makes their own journey differently, so do what comes naturally, and you can't go wrong.

Here ya go
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1661770
and maybe this as well?
http://www.xda-developers.com/andro...rs/ShsH+(xda-developers)&utm_content=FaceBook

Wow thank you every body for these great comments! I think I'll compile a Rom from source first and look through all the files..
Decompiling apks looks interesting too.
Thanks for the fast responses & links, you're awesome!

Okay so I've got another question..
One thing I always liked on some custom roms was the lockscreen flashlight..
If I would hold power for 3 seconds, the flashlight would turn on until I let go the power button.
I decompiled the framework-res.apk but didn't find anything there, just .xml files.
Where are the files where I can actually code / programm something for the lockscreen?

Try android.policy.jar
Usually the jar files contain the code, xml are for visual stuff.
But my question is, are u sure it is a lockscreen feature? (I mean the torch option) . Tbh this is the first time i hear of such a mod and i've been using android devices for over 2 yrs
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Learning ROM Development - Where to even begin??

So I’ve been a member here since the Droid X days and I’ve learned a lot over the years with each device I’ve had but I never really looked into creating ROMs (I always wanted to learn but never got to it).
I know it’s going to be a learning process that takes some time but I’m looking for help on where I should start. Before anyone posts a whole bunch of random looks I’ll say right now that I am a complete beginner when it comes to this stuff. I’ve looked at a bunch on threads and it’s so overwhelming being completely new so I don’t know what’s relevant and what’s not.
From the research I’ve done today I learned about a program called Android Kitchen which from my understanding was used to create and compile ROMs. From what I found it looks like the original dev stopped updating it back in 2013. In the ChefCentral>Android forum it looks like someone else took over and maintains it for Linux. I also came across a variant there called “Assayyed_Kitchen”. Is this the same program just made by someone else? I don’t know you tell me? lol
I also plan to learn some Java in the coming months and Android App development. I don’t have a huge interest in making apps right now but who knows maybe I will down the road. I just figured learning Java can only help with learning to make ROMs? Do I even need to know any of it for this kind of stuff?
So basically I’m looking for some guidance on where to start as a complete beginner in learning ROM development. Even someone taking the time to type out a few basic steps explains what the whole process even involves from start to finish would help a lot. For example..
1. Download source
2. Open in this program and blah blah
3. Do your magic and customize this and that
4. Do some more magic and pack it back up and flash
Just understanding the steps would make a huge difference because then I know what to research and what to learn. Hoping this thread gets some good info in it and maybe at some point I can create a complete noob friendly guide in the OP to help others like me who don’t know where to begin. To anyone that takes the time to reply and help out.. THANK YOU!

aholeinthewor1d said:
So I’ve been a member here since the Droid X days and I’ve learned a lot over the years with each device I’ve had but I never really looked into creating ROMs (I always wanted to learn but never got to it).
I know it’s going to be a learning process that takes some time but I’m looking for help on where I should start. Before anyone posts a whole bunch of random looks I’ll say right now that I am a complete beginner when it comes to this stuff. I’ve looked at a bunch on threads and it’s so overwhelming being completely new so I don’t know what’s relevant and what’s not.
From the research I’ve done today I learned about a program called Android Kitchen which from my understanding was used to create and compile ROMs. From what I found it looks like the original dev stopped updating it back in 2013. In the ChefCentral>Android forum it looks like someone else took over and maintains it for Linux. I also came across a variant there called “Assayyed_Kitchen”. Is this the same program just made by someone else? I don’t know you tell me? lol
I also plan to learn some Java in the coming months and Android App development. I don’t have a huge interest in making apps right now but who knows maybe I will down the road. I just figured learning Java can only help with learning to make ROMs? Do I even need to know any of it for this kind of stuff?
So basically I’m looking for some guidance on where to start as a complete beginner in learning ROM development. Even someone taking the time to type out a few basic steps explains what the whole process even involves from start to finish would help a lot. For example..
1. Download source
2. Open in this program and blah blah
3. Do your magic and customize this and that
4. Do some more magic and pack it back up and flash
Just understanding the steps would make a huge difference because then I know what to research and what to learn. Hoping this thread gets some good info in it and maybe at some point I can create a complete noob friendly guide in the OP to help others like me who don’t know where to begin. To anyone that takes the time to reply and help out.. THANK YOU!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is my blog on the topic. I've also got some interesting* Android Security Research on there that acts as a good Segway into reverse engineering, etc.
The one I am linking is for 6.0.x, and I'll be updating it to 7.x soon, though, the only real difference is the branch you checkout (you should understand what this means after reading my guide), and you'll need to install OpenJDK8 instead of the linked 7 (as 7.x requires this).
http://odste.blogspot.com/2016/04/guide-to-compiling-android-on-ubuntu.html