Google is making a major change to how Android is developed, shifting from a partially open process to one that happens entirely behind closed doors. This move marks a significant shift for the world’s most popular mobile operating system.
The End of Public Android Development
Android has long maintained two development branches - a public one visible to anyone, and a private one accessible only to Google and its partners. Now, Google is consolidating all Android development into the private branch, cutting off public visibility into the ongoing development process.
This change was revealed by Mishaal Rahman, a noted Android expert and journalist. According to Rahman, Google found it increasingly difficult to merge changes between the public and private branches, leading to conflicts and issues. By moving everything internal, Google aims to streamline development.
Impact on the Android Ecosystem
While average Android users likely won’t notice any difference, this shift could have major implications for the broader Android ecosystem:
Reduced Transparency
- Android enthusiasts and journalists will lose insight into upcoming features and changes before official announcements.
- It may become harder to predict Android’s future direction and prepare for changes.
Potential Discouragement of Outside Contributions
- Developers may find it more challenging to track Android’s progress and contribute to related projects.
- The lack of visibility could reduce motivation for external developers to participate in Android’s evolution.
Maintained Open Source Core
Despite the closed development, Google will continue to maintain the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) Gerrit. This means:
- Developers can still submit code contributions for consideration.
- Custom ROM development should remain largely unaffected.
- The core of Android will stay open source, even if the development process is not.
Google’s Balancing Act
This move highlights the delicate balance Google must maintain with Android:
- As a commercial product, Google needs to protect its competitive advantages and streamline development.
- As an open-source project, Android benefits from community involvement and transparency.
By keeping AOSP available while closing the development process, Google appears to be trying to strike a compromise between these competing interests.
The Future of Android Development
It’s unclear how this change will affect Android’s evolution in the long term. Some potential outcomes include:
- Faster development cycles as Google eliminates merge conflicts and streamlines processes.
- Reduced community influence on Android’s direction.
- Potential for increased fragmentation if OEMs have less insight into upcoming changes.
Only time will tell how this shift in development strategy will shape the future of Android. For now, users can expect Android to continue evolving, even if the process happens out of public view.
While this change may disappoint some Android enthusiasts, it’s worth remembering that most major operating systems, including iOS and Windows, are developed behind closed doors. Android’s shift to a more private development model brings it in line with industry norms, even as it maintains its open-source foundations.