1page.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<div id="qv-wrapper"> 20 <div id="qv"> 21 <h2>In this document</h2> 22 <ol id="auto-toc"> 23 </ol> 24 </div> 25</div> 26 27<p>Android's purpose is to establish an open platform for developers to build 28innovative apps.</p> 29<ul> 30<li>The Android Compatibility program defines technical details of the 31Android platform and provides tools for OEMs to ensure developer applications 32run on a variety of devices.</li> 33<li>The Android SDK provides built-in tools for developers to clearly state the 34device features required by their applications. 35<li>Google Play shows applications only to those devices that can properly run 36those applications.</li></li> 37 38<h2 id="why-build-compatible-android-devices">Why build compatible Android 39devices?</h2> 40 41<h3 id="users-want-a-customizable-device">Users want customizable devices</h3> 42 43<div class="figure"> 44 <img src="images/compat-ecosystem.png" alt="Compatibility ecosystem" id="figure1" /> 45 <p class="img-caption"> 46 <strong>Figure 1.</strong> The Android ecosystem thrives with device compatibility 47 </p> 48</div> 49 50<p>A mobile phone is a highly personal, always-on, always-present gateway to 51the Internet. We haven't met a user yet who didn't want to customize it by 52extending its functionality. That's why Android was designed as a robust 53platform for running aftermarket applications.</p> 54 55<h3 id="developers-outnumber-us-all">Developers outnumber us all</h3> 56<p>No device manufacturer can write all the software a user could conceivably 57need. We need third-party developers to write the apps users want, so the 58Android Open Source Project (AOSP) aims to make application development as easy 59and open as possible.</p> 60 61<h3 id="everyone-needs-a-common-ecosystem">Everyone needs a common ecosystem</h3> 62<p>Every line of code developers write to work around a bug is a line of code 63that didn't add a new feature. The more compatible mobile devices are, the more 64applications we'll have to run on those devices. By building a fully compatible 65Android device, you benefit from the huge pool of apps written for Android while 66increasing the incentive for developers to build more apps.</p> 67 68<h2 id="android-compatibility-is-free-and-its-easy">Android compatibility is 69free, and it's easy</h2> 70<p>To build an Android-compatible mobile device, follow this three-step 71process:</p> 72<ol> 73<li><em>Obtain the <a href="{@docRoot}source/index.html">Android software source 74code</a></em>. This is the source code for the Android platform that you port 75to your hardware.</li> 76<li><em>Comply with the <a href="{@docRoot}compatibility/android-cdd.pdf">Android 77Compatibility Definition Document (CDD)</a></em>. The CDD enumerates the 78software and hardware requirements of a compatible Android device.</li> 79<li><em>Pass the <a href="{@docRoot}compatibility/cts-intro.html">Compatibility 80Test Suite (CTS)</a></em>. Use the CTS as an ongoing aid to evaluate 81compatibility during the development process.</li> 82</ol> 83 84<p>After complying with the CDD and passing the CTS, your device is Android 85compatible, meaning Android apps in the ecosystem provide a consistent 86experience when running on your device. For details about the Android 87compatibility program, see the <a href="overview.html">program overview</a>.</p> 88 89<h2 id="licensing-gms">Licensing Google Mobile Services (GMS)</h2> 90<p>After building an Android compatible device, consider licensing Google Mobile 91Services (GMS), Google’s proprietary suite of apps (Google Play, YouTube, Google 92Maps, Gmail, and more ) that run on top of Android. GMS is not part of the 93Android Open Source Project and is available only through a license with Google. 94For information on how to request a GMS license, see 95<a href="contact-us.html">Contact Us</a>.</p> 96
