Android-x86#Project Celadon

{{Short description|Unofficial port of the Android mobile operating system}}

{{Infobox OS

| name = Android-x86

| logo = Android-x86.png

| caption = Screenshot of an Android device emulating Android x86 Donut r2

| developer = Chih-Wei Huang, Yi Sun

| family = Android (Linux)

| kernel type = Monolithic (modified Linux kernel)

| license = Apache License 2.0

| website = {{Official URL}}

| source_model = Open source (includes proprietary components such as Google Play)

| latest release version = {{multiple releases

| date1 = {{Start date and age|2020|03|25}}

| branch1 = Android 9.0

| version1 = r2{{cite web|url=https://www.android-x86.org/releases/releasenote-9-0-r2.html |title=Release Note 9.0-r2 |website=Android-x86.org |date=2020-03-25 |access-date=2024-03-25}} (based on Android Pie 9.0.0 (android-9.0.0_r54))

| date2 = {{Start date and age|2021|06|23}}

| branch2 = Android 8.1

| version2 = r6{{cite web|url=https://www.android-x86.org/releases/releasenote-8-1-r6.html |title=Release Note 8.1-r6 |website=Android-x86.org |date=2021-06-23 |access-date=2024-03-25}} (based on Android Oreo 8.1.0 (android-8.1.0_r81))

| date3 = {{Start date and age|2021|02|14}}

| branch3 = Android 7.1

| version3 = r5{{cite web|url=https://www.android-x86.org/releases/releasenote-7-1-r5.html |title=Release Note 7.1-r5 |website=Android-x86.org |date=2021-02-14 |access-date=2024-03-25}} (based on Android Nougat 7.1.2 (android-7.1.2_r39))

}}

File:Android x86 on EeePC 701 4G.jpg 701 4G]]

Android-x86 is an open source project that makes an unofficial porting of the Android mobile operating system developed by the Open Handset Alliance to run on devices powered by x86 processors, rather than RISC-based ARM chips.[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20180611#androidx86 DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 767, 11 June 2018][https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/android-4-netbook.html Android-x86 4.0 review - Not impressed][http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2014/02/17/android-x86-4-4-review-first-release-candidate/ Android-x86 4.4 review – first Release Candidate | LinuxBSDos.com][https://www.linuxinsider.com/story/80145.html Android-x86 Just Might Make a Good Linux Desktop Alternative | Reviews | LinuxInsider][https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20151005#androidx86 DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 630, 5 October 2015][https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20161010#androidx86 DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 682, 10 October 2016]

Developers Chih-Wei Huang and Yi Sun originated the project in 2009. The project began as a series of patches to the Android source code to enable Android to run on various netbooks, tablets and ultra-mobile PCs. Huang is the current project maintainer. Currently active developers include Mauro Rossi and Michael Goffioul.{{cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/g/android-x86|title=Android-x86 Google Group|website=android-x86@googlegroups|access-date=30 June 2021}}

Overview

The OS is based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) with some modifications and improvements. Some components are developed by the project which allow it to run on PC architecture. For instance, some low-level components are replaced to better suit the platform, such as the kernel and HALs. The OS enables OpenGL ES hardware acceleration via Mesa if supported GPUs are detected, including Intel GMA, AMD's Radeon, Nvidia's chipsets (Nouveau), VMware ({{text|vmwgfx}}) and QEMU ({{text|virgl}}). Without a supported GPU, the OS can run in non-accelerated mode via software rendering. Since release 7.1, the software renderer has been implemented via the SwiftShader project.{{cite web|url=https://git.osdn.net/view?p=android-x86/external-swiftshader.git;a=summary|title=SwiftShader repo at Android-x86|website=android-x86 gitweb|access-date=30 June 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181345/https://git.osdn.net/view?p=android-x86%2Fexternal-swiftshader.git%3Ba%3Dsummary|url-status=dead}}

Like a normal Linux distribution, the project releases pre-built ISO images which can run under live mode or installed to a hard disk on the target system. Since release 4.4-r2, the project also releases efi_img{{cite web|url=https://sourceforge.net/projects/android-x86/files/Release%204.4/|title=Android-x86 Release 4.4|website=android-x86@sourceforge|access-date=31 August 2015}} which can be used to create a live USB to be booted from on UEFI systems. Since release 4.4-r4, the UEFI support was united into the ISO images and efi_img was marked as deprecated.

Except AOSP, the following incomplete list of components are developed from scratch or derived from other open source projects to form the entire Android-x86 codebase:

Kernel
Installer
drm_gralloc and gbm_gralloc
Mesa
SwiftShader
Audio
Camera
GPS
Lights
Radio Interface Layer
Sensors

More and more components may be added to the updated version.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+History

!Version

!Android version

!Release date

!Status

|1.5 (Cupcake)

|2009-07-29

|Discontinued

|1.6 (Donut)

|2009-11-20

|Discontinued

|2.1 (Eclair)

|2010-06-30

|Discontinued

|3.0 (Honeycomb)

|2011-08-28

|Discontinued

|4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

|2012-01-01

|Discontinued

|4.2 (Jellybean)

|2012-12-25

|Discontinued

|4.3 (Jellybean)

|2013-07-25

|Discontinued

|4.4.2 (KitKat)

|2014-08-08

|Discontinued

|5.1.1 (Lollipop)

|2015-10-07

|Discontinued

|6.0.1 (Marshmallow)

|2016-09-13

|Discontinued

|7.1.2 (Nougat)

|2017-06-08

|Maintained

|8.1.0 (Oreo)

|2019-01-15

|Maintained

|9.0.0 (Pie)

|2020-02-27

|Maintained

|10.0 (Q)

|Source Code{{cite web|url=https://www.android-x86.org/source.html | title = Source code branches | website=Android-x86.org |date=2024-03-25 |access-date=2024-03-25}} (Work In Progress)

|11.0 (R)

|Source Code{{cite web|url=https://www.android-x86.org/source.html | title = Source code branches | website=Android-x86.org |date=2024-03-25 |access-date=2024-03-25}} (Work In Progress)

Related projects

=Bliss OS=

An open source OS based on Android-x86. Supported on Chromebooks, PCs, and tablets.{{Cite web |title=Bliss OS For PC |url=https://blissos.org/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=blissos.org}}

=Project Celadon=

A related project, Celadon (formerly Android-IA){{cite web|url=https://01.org/projectceladon/|title=Home|website=Android Open Source Platform for Intel Architectures|access-date=2020-09-15}} has been produced by Intel that will run on newer UEFI devices. The project states that its intention is to drive Android support and innovation on Intel Architecture in addition to providing a venue for collaboration. It re-used the drm_gralloc graphics HAL module from Android-x86 in order to support Intel HD Graphics hardware. Back as Android-IA, it provided a FAQ{{cite web|url=https://01.org/android-ia/documentation/faq |title=FAQ |website=Android on Intel Architecture |access-date=3 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231093457/https://01.org/android-ia/documentation/faq |archive-date=31 December 2013 }} with more detailed information.

=Remix OS=

Jide Technologies partnered with Chih-Wei Huang, the main developer of Android-x86, on Remix OS, a closed-source derivative of Android-x86 designed for use on conventional PCs. The first beta of Remix OS was made available on March 1, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://forum.xda-developers.com/remix/remix-os/announcement-release-remix-os-pc-beta-t3326362 |title=[ANNOUNCEMENT] Release of Remix OS for PC Be... {{pipe}} Remix OS |website=Forum.xda-developers.com |date=2016-03-01 |access-date=2017-05-02}} The project was discontinued on July 17, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jidetech/remix-io-a-4k-nougat-powered-all-in-one-device/posts/1939337|title=An update from Jide Team|author=Jide Tech|website=Kickstarter.com|date=2017-07-17|access-date=2020-07-12}}

=Android TV x86=

In late 2020, a senior member of XDA Developers created Android TV x86 to provide Android TV for PCs, which "should work out of the box because the ROM has its roots in the Android-x86 project".{{cite web| url=https://www.xda-developers.com/android-tv-x86-repurpose-pc-media-streamer/| title=Android TV x86 lets you repurpose your old PC into a media streamer| website=XDA Developers| date=2020-11-14| access-date=2020-11-16}}