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Root Looking for a padawan learner...

starkraving

starkraving

Android Expert
Hey guys and gals...

I'm looking for one or two elite owners who'd be interested in learning theming and modding. Preferably someone who's going to be with the Elite for a bit. I've finally started work on my N4 and X but I don't want to leave you guys hi and dry so I'd like to give some classes.
1. Have a computer/internet
2. Common sense
3. Patience/ability to learn

PM me if you're interested. :)

OK got a few responses so why not start here? So here we go...

Lesson 1: "Getting Started" :D

Computer:
Internet:
Tools:
a) Android SDK(This will have 9draw patch, adb etc.)
http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

HOW-TO Fix **ADB is not recognized in the CMD(Windows7/Vista recommended for XP also)**

Navigate to & Left_Click on Start >
Right_Click on Computer >
Left_Click on Advance System Settings >
Left_Click on Environment Variables >
Left_Click on Edit ( Path Variables ) >
"Path" in "Systemvariables" and put it at the end of this line, i.e. like this: ";C:\android\platform-tools;Cdecompile\tools;". Because then it'll even work if u run the cmd as administrator, ( This is the Path of my adb.exe )

You must put a ; in front of ;C:\ ( adb Path goes here.) And a ; after youve entered your path.

b) Java SDK (gotta have it!)
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7-downloads-1880260.html

Setting Path on Windows:
*Example *
;C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin;C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\lib"
Make sure there are NO spaces in or between variables.

Windows 8
Drag the Mouse pointer to the Right bottom corner of the screen
Click on the Search icon and type: Control Panel
Click on -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced
Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH, and click on it.
In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and the location of the class as the value.
Close the window.

Windows 7:
Select Computer from the Start menu
Choose System Properties from the context menu
Click Advanced system settings > Advanced tab
Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH, and click on it.
In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and the location of the class as the value.

Windows XP:
Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced
Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH, and click on it.
In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and the location of the class as the value.
Close the window.
Reopen Command prompt window, and run your java code.

Windows Vista:
Right click My Computer icon
Choose Properties from the context menu
Click Advanced tab (Advanced system settings link in Vista)
In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and the location of the class as the value.

Setting Path on Solaris and Linux
To find out if the java executable is in your PATH, execute:
% java -version

This will print the version of the java executable, if it can find it. If you get error java: Command not found. Then path is not properly set.

To find out which java executable the first one found in your PATH, execute:
% which java

Below are the steps to set the PATH permanently.

For bash Shell:
Edit the startup file (~/ .bashrc)
Modify PATH variable:
PATH="$PATH":/usr/local/jdk1.6.0/bin
export PATH
Save and close the file
Open new Terminal window
Verify the PATH is set properly
% java -version

For C Shell (csh):
Edit startup file (~/ .cshrc)
Set Path
set path="$PATH":/usr/local/jdk1.6.0/bin
Save and Close the file
Open new Terminal window
Verify the PATH is set properly
% java -version

c) APK MultiTool (decompiling/recompiling and so much more.)
http://apkmultitool.com/

d) Smali/BakSmali DEPRECATED!!!(dex decompiling so we can edit smali of course) :D
https://bitbucket.org/JesusFreke/smali/downloads
USE THIS TOOL!!!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2311766
e) Gimp (image editing)
http://www.gimp.org/

f) Notepad++ (code editing)
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

g) 7zip because we need a👎 archiving tool to poke around sometimes. :D
http://www.7-zip.org/

Now keep in mind the gimp and notepad++ are my personal preference. If you prefer PS or some other xml editing software feel free to use what you know. :)

Lesson 2:

Setting up your apk multitool and smali environments.

Now that you've got everything installed and ready to go its time to get your modding environment fired up.

1. Unzip Apk Multitool to your desktop. (You can put it in "C:\windows\ * but for ease of use we'll unzip it to the desktop)
2. Inside the folder you'll see various scripts, folders etc... But first things first, extract the framework-res.apk and SystemUI.apk from the rom you'll be modding. Place them in the "other" folder in your apk folder on your desktop.
3. Run the "setup" script and run then install framework option. *NOTE* USE A(N) UNMODIFIED FRAMEWORK from your rom. Now run the systemui install option. (Same as above, unmodified.)
4. Now run the install directories option.
5. Exit.

Congrats your ApkMultitool is ready to go. :D

Now for the smali/baksmali files you downloaded...(deprecated!!!)
Updated!!!
Found this awesome tool for smali management... Installation and downloads can be found here. I've just tried it and works as advertised. :D
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2311766
Now we're ready to mod. :D

Lesson 3: decompiling/recompiling

1. Open your APK Multitool folder and run the script. (You'll get a android made of code and a "press any key to continue." So...press any key. :)
2. Using the adb extract option or 7zip, extract the apk you want to edit and place it in the "place here for modding folder" in the script you will have an option to set your project. It'll list all the apks in your modding folder.
3. Choose the decompile option (I believe its #9) now at this point provided you installed java correctly you will have a freshly decompiled apk in your "projects" folder.
4. Make your edits(How to make .9png/xml edits to be covered later.)
5. Now that you've made your edits select recompile option (#11 I believe) and provided there are no issues you will be given a "keep" folder. Here's where it gets a little tricky, in the "keep" folder delete any images/ xmls you've edited (Delete the resources.arsc if you edited ANY xmls.)
6. Exit back to the script and press enter now that you've done that. Your apk will finish recompiling with your projects/keep folder then you'll have a👎 unsignedyourapknamehere.apk, rename it to its name and use adb to push it to system/app or wherever... And there you have it...
 
I'm definitely interested. I've moved on device-wise, but still have the elite. main problem is all the roms i've used are more than annoyingly unstable. main issue is with intermittent rebooting.
I am a intermediate-level graphic designer and long time android rom flasher. just having the skills to work on theming for this and other subsequent devices would prove to be invaluable.
 
I would be highly interested :)! but i have a question how much information would i need to know from the get go? i want to go into open source software development and idk where themeing and modding would fall under...im completely new to this but i am willing to be patient with the learning process, whatever it takes. i've been quietly following forums for this phone since phenom released his cm9 alpha and reading what a lot you guys posting is the only knowledge i have and thats only from what i can understand haha
 
Edward Tellez said:
I would be highly interested :)! but i have a question how much information would i need to know from the get go? i want to go into open source software development and idk where themeing and modding would fall under...im completely new to this but i am willing to be patient with the learning process, whatever it takes. i've been quietly following forums for this phone since phenom released his cm9 alpha and reading what a lot you guys posting is the only knowledge i have and thats only from what i can understand haha
Click to expand...

Well some rudimentary understanding and a will to learn is all you really need. Modifying android is much more than image coloring or resizing. But our community has a lot of resources. So patience and the willingness to read A LOT is what you need lol.
 
starkraving said:
Well some rudimentary understanding and a will to learn is all you really need. Modifying android is much more than image coloring or resizing. But our community has a lot of resources. So patience and the willingness to read A LOT is what you need lol.
Click to expand...
Okay :) well since im practically throwing myself at you enthusiasm is what i have, i was expecting a lot of reading anyway so thats cool
 
I'm more than willing to learn how to theme stark!!! Also my elite is still in service if that is some bonus lol
 
I would also be very grateful if you taught me as well. I know "some" coding in Java and I have a Java environment set up on my Linux mint 15 computer if that helps. IDK if modding is going to use java programming skills or not but i guess it would.

If we need Java programming skills I know a very helpful guy on Youtube.
 
Op updated with lesson 1 "Getting Started" I'll update this daily with a new sequential lesson. Hope this helps everyone.
 
as much as it kills me to say it, my deactivated device isn't even stable enough work with this. I'm constantly getting reboots and no rom/kernel/wipe/reset configuration will fix it. stepping down, but not out of the game. still willing to work with theming for the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G. any of this transferable? also, is Linux an absolute deal-breaker?
 
billpenny78clo said:
as much as it kills me to say it, my deactivated device isn't even stable enough work with this. I'm constantly getting reboots and no rom/kernel/wipe/reset configuration will fix it. stepping down, but not out of the game. still willing to work with theming for the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G. any of this transferable? also, is Linux an absolute deal-breaker?
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that. Linux is absolutely fine. There are variations of these tools for Linux as well. I set it up as Windows because I figured that would be the majority of users.
 
starkraving said:
Sorry to hear that. Linux is absolutely fine. There are variations of these tools for Linux as well. I set it up as Windows because I figured that would be the majority of users.
Click to expand...

yeah. my system is a Windows 7 pc as well. I can run Linux just don't have it installed.
 
billpenny78clo said:
yeah. my system is a Windows 7 pc as well. I can run Linux just don't have it installed.
Click to expand...
For apktool install for Linux ...
Download the apktool.java file along with other files. Extract them to the desktop.
https://code.google.com/p/android-a...ktool-install-linux-r05-ibot.tar.bz2&can=2&q=

Now open terminal and type line by line :

Note : "android" in all the below commands is my username. So it changes according to your pc name

We are giving root permissions for the 3 files that you extracted above.
Code:
chown -R android:android '/home/android/Desktop/apktool.jar'
press enter

Code:
chown -R android:android '/home/android/Desktop/aapt'
press enter

Code:
chown -R android:android '/home/android/Desktop/apktool'
press enter


Next make all 3 files executable by doing the same thing one at a time pressing enter in between each one:
Code:
sudo chmod +x '/home/android/Desktop/apktool.jar'
after the first it will ask you for your password type it, you shouldnt need it after that for the rest

Code:
sudo chmod +x '/home/android/Desktop/aapt'
Code:
sudo chmod +x '/home/android/Desktop/apktool'
now we need to move all three files to bin folder to do it type this command and enter your password:
Code:
gksudo nautilus
a new window should pop up on the left click on "filesystem/usr/local/bin, then drag all three folders into the bin folder and close it.

APKTOOL is now ready and make your modifications on a linux distro easily
 
starkraving said:
For apktool install for Linux ...
Download the apktool.java file along with other files. Extract them to the desktop.
https://code.google.com/p/android-a...ktool-install-linux-r05-ibot.tar.bz2&can=2&q=

Now open terminal and type line by line :

Note : "android" in all the below commands is my username. So it changes according to your pc name

We are giving root permissions for the 3 files that you extracted above.
Code:
chown -R android:android '/home/android/Desktop/apktool.jar'
press enter

Code:
chown -R android:android '/home/android/Desktop/aapt'
press enter

Code:
chown -R android:android '/home/android/Desktop/apktool'
press enter


Next make all 3 files executable by doing the same thing one at a time pressing enter in between each one:
Code:
sudo chmod +x '/home/android/Desktop/apktool.jar'
after the first it will ask you for your password type it, you shouldnt need it after that for the rest

Code:
sudo chmod +x '/home/android/Desktop/aapt'
Code:
sudo chmod +x '/home/android/Desktop/apktool'
now we need to move all three files to bin folder to do it type this command and enter your password:
Code:
gksudo nautilus
a new window should pop up on the left click on "filesystem/usr/local/bin, then drag all three folders into the bin folder and close it.

APKTOOL is now ready and make your modifications on a linux distro easily
Click to expand...

How do i test to make sure i did this right. By the way there are only 2 files in the folder not three. There is no apktool.jar
By the way gksudo works for any filemanager. I am using Cinnamon right now so i would type gksudo nemo. If i was log into Xfce would use gksudo thunar. Anyone wondering.
 
starkraving said:
Wasn't in the set up zip? Odd but OK...I'm away from my PC but here's a helpful site.
[How to] setup and use the apktool for Linux
Click to expand...
Yeah it seperated and i got it.
Okay so I was getting this error saying i needed andriod.policy.jar which i found. Now the problem is when i try giving it root access by chmod it says if doesnt exist and i know i am typing it correctly. So i looked around and apperantly i am missing sumthing called a dex file and without that they say it will not work. Is there anything i can do?

android.policy.jar
bash: /usr/local/bin/android.policy.jar: Permission denied

sudo android.policy.jar
sudo: android.policy.jar: command not found


??? Sudo should give it the permission even without chmod. Is this because of the missing dex file
 
JumpinJupiter said:
Yeah it seperated and i got it.
Okay so I was getting this error saying i needed andriod.policy.jar which i found. Now the problem is when i try giving it root access by chmod it says if doesnt exist and i know i am typing it correctly. So i looked around and apperantly i am missing sumthing called a dex file and without that they say it will not work. Is there anything i can do?
Click to expand...

Inside the androidpolicy.jar is the classes.dex using any kind of compression tool can extract it.
 
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