Phase one of porting Android: Done

You probably know already that the android platform has become opensource 2 days ago. Else check my previous blog post. Now there are 4 big phases in porting the android to our beloved Neo FreeRunners.

1. First there has to be made a compatible linux kernel. This is kernel with all the necessary modules for letting the android platform work.
   
2. Secondly all the platform specific ARMv5 code has to be replaced by ARMv4 code. That's just because our Neo FreeRunner runs another processor and isn't fully compatible with a newer ARMv5 processor. So basicly Android is written for talking in ARMv5 code to the processor, while our ARMv4 processor in the Neo FreeRunner doesn't understand that.
   
3. Thirdly all the hardware-specific code has to be replaced by function for calling the Neo FreeRunner hardware. Because the code in Android thinks he's talking to a HTC G1.
   
4. Fourthly we will have to make additional software or change software, before we can fully use the Android. For example an on screen keyboard isn't included in the default stack of the Android.

How far is the port?
Phase 1 (Done): Now 2 days after the release of the sources, phase 1 is almost finished. There is a working kernel with the extras modules necessary located at Koolu (You will have to register). The patches against the Openmoko kernel are already submitted and are ready to be included in the stable kernel branch. Maybe some patches will be rewritten for making the integration into the Openmoko kernel a little easier.

Phase2 (Busy): There are already some people busy with looking into porting the special ARMv5 commands to ARMv4, but nobody has yet reported their result.

So keep up the good working. I want to thank Bricode from koolu.org and Sean McNeil for the patches and work they already have done. It's very appreciated. If anyone wants to help with porting, these are the guys to contact.