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Root [IMP] Open Discussion for Custom ROM

N

nabeeleinstein

Member
OPEN DISCUSSION FOR CUSTOM ROM DEVELOPMENT

HI GUYS
I'm here to give you the log of activities behind the scenes for ROM development for our phone.

1st and foremost
Yes. Work is going on. You are not stranded.

Having said that-
time for details.

The Hisense U8 IS a clone of this phone.

After replacing the kernel and a few files
the ROM boots.

+++++Discovery & 1st boot credit to ITZMIANDY++++++++++

The Buglist:
1. Radios are not working [No cell, wifi or bluetooth]
2. Haptic feedback is not working
3. Speakers are not functional
4. IMEI no. are blank
5. Chinese everywhere even after changing language

So its basically a shell that works (somehow!),
but a LOT of important things dont.

I'm working on it
and have compiled and flashed more that 20 times since the last two days.

[For CM supporters]
I've tried porting from Nexus One too
== The boot fails giving error oem_rapi
* something to do with Kernel INCOMPATIBILITY.

The test build logs are as follows:

Test no:

1. Hisense modified = Boots
2. Hisense stock = Fail
3. Replacing sytem files x3 = Fail
4. Replacing sys file & build.prop edit x3 = Fail
5. Replacing lib only x2 = Fail
6. Replacing etc files x2 = Fail
7. simple extract mod config using kitchen x4 = Fail

* x {n} shows the no. of times its been compiled
using different combinations of edify, signing or updater script edits.

Logcat in modified Hisense shows incompatibility of bluetooth scripts, no media manager and bootanimation conflicts among other errors.

Most of the builds get into bootloop with camera configs, bluetooth, media manager missing and more.

I'm NOT a dev.
I'm just like you.
and I'm running out of ideas.

So I need your help.

Get creative with your ideas and post them here.
I'll make 2 differnt builds each day from the comments.

Comment of this format for your ease.

1.Your Idea of files important.
2.Replace OR keep Hisense files if present already?
3. Link to the guide where you read about it.

Looking forward to your inputs. :D



 
amazing work man. I was hoping someone could channelise our efforts. I am glad you are taking the lead. Awesome. i am sure now we can get somewhere.
 
Just to clarify. When you say that it failed. you mean the flashing failed with an error OR the booting after flashing failed ?
 
1. I believe that we are not working on the stock Hisense Rom.. Its a custom ROM that was made for the Hisense.

2. Its Chinese everywhere after changing the language because of the .apk's. Delete the .apks in the user data folder before flashing or uninstall the chinese apks. (Make sure you dont delete the chinese keyboard before installing a compatible English keyboard)

3. Decompile the framework, check the strings file in the framework-res\res\values-zh-rCN thats the one with all Chinese characters..

You will find a similar values folder with a strings file with English characters.. swap the file and then you wont have to swap languages everytime you flash it..

4. To get network signals the first thing that you need to fix is the IMEI number issue..
 
sethuram said:
Just to clarify. When you say that it failed. you mean the flashing failed with an error OR the booting after flashing failed ?
Click to expand...

flashing is succesful
i even made and ui print in the last line, and it works

the rom boots but gets in a bootloop.

A few times after 2-3 mins its only a white screen.
 
itzmiandy said:
1. I believe that we are not working on the stock Hisense Rom.. Its a custom ROM that was made for the Hisense.

2. Its Chinese everywhere after changing the language because of the .apk's. Delete the .apks in the user data folder before flashing or uninstall the chinese apks. (Make sure you dont delete the chinese keyboard before installing a compatible English keyboard)

3. Decompile the framework, check the strings file in the framework-res\res\values-zh-rCN thats the one with all Chinese characters..

You will find a similar values folder with a strings file with English characters.. swap the file and then you wont have to swap languages everytime you flash it..

4. To get network signals the first thing that you need to fix is the IMEI number issue..
Click to expand...

As you said
I'm trying to get the systems work correctly first, since that's the important part.
Languages can be easily dealt with later.

and the problem is not only the IMEI
its the entire radio set failure, not to mention sound and vibration.

do you know a good guide to understand logcat?
the problem seems to be in /libandroid thing

that i beleive is in the system/lib folder.
 
nabeeleinstein said:
zRam - NO
speed - YES

the free ram peaks to 74MB after boot
the entire micromax build is poorly coded

gotta do with their 'chalta hai' attitude.
Click to expand...

Although it is poorly builded , I have not faced any FC till now. But background apps are closed or remove from ram due to lack of memory. Many better devices like wfs gets FC . Battery drain due to background dialer is a great issue for wfs. So , lack of Rom is the main issue for our device. Developers try to free zram first.
 
idhbar said:
Although it is poorly builded , I have not faced any FC till now. But background apps are closed or remove from ram due to lack of memory. Many better devices like wfs gets FC . Battery drain due to background dialer is a great issue for wfs. So , lack of Rom is the main issue for our device. Developers try to free zram first.
Click to expand...


zRam From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
zRam is an experimental (staging) module of the Linux kernel. It was previously called "compcache".



zRam increases performance by avoiding paging on disk and instead uses a compressed block device in RAM in which paging takes place until it is necessary to use the swap space on the hard disk drive.

Since using RAM is faster than using disks, zRam allows Linux to make more use of RAM when swapping/paging is required, especially on older computers with less RAM installed.


Even though the cost of RAM hardware is relatively low this feature still offers advantages for netbooks and other lower-powered laptops, virtualization and in the case of embedded devices, especially those that use flash memories that have a limited lifespan, dependent on write-use and thus wear out quickly when used as a swap device.

Why do you want to disable it?? O_o
 
nabeeleinstein said:
zRam From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
zRam is an experimental (staging) module of the Linux kernel. It was previously called "compcache".



zRam increases performance by avoiding paging on disk and instead uses a compressed block device in RAM in which paging takes place until it is necessary to use the swap space on the hard disk drive.

Since using RAM is faster than using disks, zRam allows Linux to make more use of RAM when swapping/paging is required, especially on older computers with less RAM installed.


Even though the cost of RAM hardware is relatively low this feature still offers advantages for netbooks and other lower-powered laptops, virtualization and in the case of embedded devices, especially those that use flash memories that have a limited lifespan, dependent on write-use and thus wear out quickly when used as a swap device.

Why do you want to disable it?? O_o
Click to expand...

Because it only allows to swap system apps for mmx A87 , not available for user apps. That's why user apps are disappeared during multitasking .
 
Then how can we solve multitasking problem for mmx A87? Swap file can be build even in /cache or /sdcard , but until we able to free more ram , the multitasking problem will be there. If u check running processes under application u can see most of the times there is no process as cached. There is no other way to increase the ram but we have other options for swapping.
 
idhbar said:
Then how can we solve multitasking problem for mmx A87? Swap file can be build even in /cache or /sdcard , but until we able to free more ram , the multitasking problem will be there. If u check running processes under application u can see most of the times there is no process as cached. There is no other way to increase the ram but we have other options for swapping.
Click to expand...

Ok here's something you can do that will help all of us.
There is a version of the rom with zram disabled here in the forums.
Flash it.
Create a swap on your card.
Make a log of these events and post your results.

If it does bring a difference we will put in in the custom rom.
 
DAY 2.
LOG

I'm working with the lib folder only. In my opinion it has all the drivers for the system, and I found myself partially right.

1.
After replacing lib folder and only keeping lib_andoid_runtime.so, the logcat does NOT give any bluetooth errors.
BUT the rom doesnt boot due to error
"unable to register media. not found

2.
After replacing the lib folder COMPLETELY.
NO Bluetooth error.
NO Boot either.

LOGCAT

[ 11-10 04:09:46.280 91:0x5b W/dalvikvm ]

ERROR: Unable to find decl for native Landroid/graphics/Movie;.gifFrameDuration:(I)I





[ 11-10 04:09:46.280 91:0x5b W/dalvikvm ]

ERROR: Unable to find decl for native Landroid/graphics/Movie;.gifFrameBitmap:(I)Landroid/graphics/Bitmap;





[ 11-10 04:09:46.280 91:0x5b W/dalvikvm ]

ERROR: Unable to find decl for native Landroid/graphics/Movie;.gifTotalFrameCount:()I





[ 11-10 04:09:46.280 91:0x5b W/dalvikvm ]

ERROR: Unable to find decl for native Landroid/graphics/Movie;.closeGif:()V





[ 11-10 04:09:46.280 91:0x5b W/dalvikvm ]

ERROR: Unable to find decl for native Landroid/graphics/Movie;.decodeMarkedStream:(Ljava/io/InputStream;)Landroid/graphics/Movie;





[ 11-10 04:09:46.280 91:0x5b E/JNIHelp ]

RegisterNatives failed for 'android/graphics/Movie'





[ 11-10 04:09:46.280 91:0x5b E/AndroidRuntime ]

Unable to register all android natives

That's it for Today.
Taking a break on sunday.

Thankyou.
 
@idhbar
u can convert user apps into system apps using link2sd..so they dont get autokilled..i do that for equaliser app..otherwise it often get autokilled..better dont do it for heavy ram requiring apps ..
 
nabeeleinstein said:
Ok here's something you can do that will help all of us.
There is a version of the rom with zram disabled here in the forums.
Flash it.
Create a swap on your card.
Make a log of these events and post your results.

If it does bring a difference we will put in in the custom rom.
Click to expand...

First of all my adb does not work due to some fault in my chipset. I can only test by alogcat apps if it is pre rooted . Any way I did not find any such stock Rom . If such stock Rom with zram free available and flashable through cwm 2.5.0.8 ; send me link to my pm inbox.
I really want to support you guy, but unfortunately my device is not detected by adb.
 
sooraj87 said:
@idhbar
u can convert user apps into system apps using link2sd..so they dont get autokilled..i do that for equaliser app..otherwise it often get autokilled..better dont do it for heavy ram requiring apps ..
Click to expand...

My question was related to multitasking which its related to ram.
 
avoiding a process geting auto killled helps in multi tasking :) usually my equaliser gets killed wen i open browser.now its not evn shown in settings>running services..now i can multitask operamini+musicplayer+equaliser..cant ask more than that frm our poor A87!
 
Guys please keep this thread for ROM discussion only.
I need some tips and ideas here
The rest of the issue can be solved later, even tailor made for you,
but first help me get this thing through.

Thanks for understanding. :)
 
nabeeleinstein said:
Guys please keep this thread for ROM discussion only.
I need some tips and ideas here
The rest of the issue can be solved later, even tailor made for you,
but first help me get this thing through.

Thanks for understanding. :)
Click to expand...

ya man i would like to work on its boot animation and theme parts
 
1st:
Sorry for the late reply, but I was busy with my test.

2nd:
I've stopped developing on hisense rom

reasons:

1. The towers will never come. It snt some lib or etc file missing but EFS partition on the whole which mismatches.

2. The free RAM was WITHOUT Gapps. So if they are flashed, gone is the free RAM.

3. Its crazy endeavor and I want to use my phone too. !

OK, so what have I been doing besides my test prep that is??

I was working on the stock rom itself.

Little mods from here and there and a few settings, build.prop edits and stuff.

My results:

1. Use swapper with swap partition, has a smoooth effect.

2. V6 supercharger works, and 512hp balanced min free values give a nice mutitasking experience.

3. My test game was Jetpack joyride, which i could play with a little lag in the beginning, but it was smooth thereafter.

4. The zRam thing doesnt help. 48 mb is appropriate value.
(though curiously on stock rom without any script decreasing the value did play the game.)

Would request people on stock (rooted) without using any scripts to install 'vm heap' from play store
and decrease the heap to 12/16 mb, reboot and try a game.

Post your results here

DO HAVE A NANDROID BACKUP <<PLEASE>>

FINALLY a QUESTION

Would you like a ROM based on stock mmx for now?

If yes what features do you want?


 
nabeeleinstein said:
1st:
Sorry for the late reply, but I was busy with my test.

2nd:
I've stopped developing on hisense rom

reasons:

1. The towers will never come. It snt some lib or etc file missing but EFS partition on the whole which mismatches.

2. The free RAM was WITHOUT Gapps. So if they are flashed, gone is the free RAM.

3. Its crazy endeavor and I want to use my phone too. !

OK, so what have I been doing besides my test prep that is??

I was working on the stock rom itself.

Little mods from here and there and a few settings, build.prop edits and stuff.

My results:

1. Use swapper with swap partition, has a smoooth effect.

2. V6 supercharger works, and 512hp balanced min free values give a nice mutitasking experience.

3. My test game was Jetpack joyride, which i could play with a little lag in the beginning, but it was smooth thereafter.

4. The zRam thing doesnt help. 48 mb is appropriate value.
(though curiously on stock rom without any script decreasing the value did play the game.)

Would request people on stock (rooted) without using any scripts to install 'vm heap' from play store
and decrease the heap to 12/16 mb, reboot and try a game.

Post your results here

DO HAVE A NANDROID BACKUP <<PLEASE>>

FINALLY a QUESTION

Would you like a ROM based on stock mmx for now?

If yes what features do you want?
Click to expand...
CM7 based ROM 2.3.7
Or A Vanilla 2.3.5 would be best IMO
 
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