This section describes how to set up your local work environment to build the Android source files. You will need to use Linux or Mac OS. Building under Windows is not currently supported.
For an overview of the entire code-review and code-update process, see Life of a Patch.
Some of the requirements for your build environment are determined by which
version of the source code you plan to compile. See
Build Numbers for a full listing of branches you may
choose from. You may also choose to download and build the latest source code
(called master), in which case you will simply omit the branch specification
when you initialize the repository.
Once you have selected a branch, follow the appropriate instructions below to set up your build environment.
These instructions apply to all branches, including master.
The Android build is routinely tested in house on recent versions of Ubuntu LTS (14.04), but most distributions should have the required build tools available. Reports of successes or failures on other distributions are welcome.
For Gingerbread (2.3.x) and newer versions, including the master
branch, a 64-bit environment is required. Older versions can be
compiled on 32-bit systems.
Note: See the Downloading and Building page for the list of hardware and software requirements. Then follow the detailed instructions for Ubuntu and Mac OS below.
The master branch of Android in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP)
requires Java 7. On Ubuntu, use OpenJDK.
Java 7: For the latest version of Android
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jdk
Optionally, update the default Java version by running:
$ sudo update-alternatives --config java
$ sudo update-alternatives --config javac
If you encounter version errors for Java, set its path as described in the Wrong Java Version section.
To develop older versions of Android, download and install the corresponding version of the Java JDK:
Java 6: for Gingerbread through KitKat
Java 5: for Cupcake through Froyo
Note: The lunch command in the build step will ensure that the Sun JDK is
used instead of any previously installed JDK.
You will need a 64-bit version of Ubuntu. Ubuntu 14.04 is recommended.
$ sudo apt-get install bison g++-multilib git gperf libxml2-utils make zlib1g-dev:i386 zipYou may use Ubuntu 12.04 to build older versions of Android. Version 12.04 is not supported on master or recent releases.
$ sudo apt-get install git gnupg flex bison gperf build-essential \
zip curl libc6-dev libncurses5-dev:i386 x11proto-core-dev \
libx11-dev:i386 libreadline6-dev:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 \
libgl1-mesa-dev g++-multilib mingw32 tofrodos \
python-markdown libxml2-utils xsltproc zlib1g-dev:i386
$ sudo ln -s /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/mesa/libGL.so.1 /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libGL.so
Building on Ubuntu 10.04-11.10 is no longer supported, but may be useful for building older releases of AOSP.
$ sudo apt-get install git gnupg flex bison gperf build-essential \
zip curl zlib1g-dev libc6-dev lib32ncurses5-dev ia32-libs \
x11proto-core-dev libx11-dev lib32readline5-dev lib32z-dev \
libgl1-mesa-dev g++-multilib mingw32 tofrodos python-markdown \
libxml2-utils xsltproc
On Ubuntu 10.10:
$ sudo ln -s /usr/lib32/mesa/libGL.so.1 /usr/lib32/mesa/libGL.so
On Ubuntu 11.10:
$ sudo apt-get install libx11-dev:i386
Under GNU/Linux systems (and specifically under Ubuntu systems), regular users can't directly access USB devices by default. The system needs to be configured to allow such access.
The recommended approach is to create a file
/etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules (as the root user) and to copy
the following lines in it. <username> must be replaced by the
actual username of the user who is authorized to access the phones
over USB.
# adb protocol on passion (Nexus One)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4e12", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# fastboot protocol on passion (Nexus One)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="0bb4", ATTR{idProduct}=="0fff", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# adb protocol on crespo/crespo4g (Nexus S)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4e22", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# fastboot protocol on crespo/crespo4g (Nexus S)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4e20", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# adb protocol on stingray/wingray (Xoom)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="22b8", ATTR{idProduct}=="70a9", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# fastboot protocol on stingray/wingray (Xoom)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="708c", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# adb protocol on maguro/toro (Galaxy Nexus)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="04e8", ATTR{idProduct}=="6860", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# fastboot protocol on maguro/toro (Galaxy Nexus)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4e30", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# adb protocol on panda (PandaBoard)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="0451", ATTR{idProduct}=="d101", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# adb protocol on panda (PandaBoard ES)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="d002", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# fastboot protocol on panda (PandaBoard)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="0451", ATTR{idProduct}=="d022", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# usbboot protocol on panda (PandaBoard)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="0451", ATTR{idProduct}=="d00f", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# usbboot protocol on panda (PandaBoard ES)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="0451", ATTR{idProduct}=="d010", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# adb protocol on grouper/tilapia (Nexus 7)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4e42", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# fastboot protocol on grouper/tilapia (Nexus 7)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4e40", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# adb protocol on manta (Nexus 10)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4ee2", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
# fastboot protocol on manta (Nexus 10)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4ee0", MODE="0600", OWNER="<username>"
Those new rules take effect the next time a device is plugged in. It might therefore be necessary to unplug the device and plug it back into the computer.
This is known to work on both Ubuntu Hardy Heron (8.04.x LTS) and Lucid Lynx (10.04.x LTS). Other versions of Ubuntu or other variants of GNU/Linux might require different configurations.
By default, the output of each build is stored in the out/
subdirectory of the matching source tree.
On some machines with multiple storage devices, builds are faster when storing the source files and the output on separate volumes. For additional performance, the output can be stored on a filesystem optimized for speed instead of crash robustness, since all files can be re-generated in case of filesystem corruption.
To set this up, export the OUT_DIR_COMMON_BASE variable
to point to the location where your output directories
will be stored.
export OUT_DIR_COMMON_BASE=<path-to-your-out-directory>
The output directory for each separate source tree will be named after the directory holding the source tree.
For instance, if you have source trees as /source/master1
and /source/master2 and OUT_DIR_COMMON_BASE is set to
/output, the output directories will be /output/master1
and /output/master2.
It's important in that case to not have multiple source trees stored in directories that have the same name, as those would end up sharing an output directory, with unpredictable results.
This is only supported on Jelly Bean (4.1) and newer,
including the master branch.
In a default installation, Mac OS runs on a case-preserving but case-insensitive
filesystem. This type of filesystem is not supported by git and will cause some
git commands (such as git status) to behave abnormally. Because of this, we
recommend that you always work with the AOSP source files on a case-sensitive
filesystem. This can be done fairly easily using a disk image, discussed below.
Once the proper filesystem is available, building the master branch in a modern
Mac OS environment is very straightforward. Earlier branches, including ICS,
require some additional tools and SDKs.
You can create a case-sensitive filesystem within your existing Mac OS environment using a disk image. To create the image, launch Disk Utility and select "New Image". A size of 25GB is the minimum to complete the build; larger numbers are more future-proof. Using sparse images saves space while allowing to grow later as the need arises. Be sure to select "case sensitive, journaled" as the volume format.
You can also create it from a shell with the following command:
# hdiutil create -type SPARSE -fs 'Case-sensitive Journaled HFS+' -size 40g ~/android.dmg
This will create a .dmg (or possibly a .dmg.sparseimage) file which, once mounted, acts as a drive with the required formatting for Android development.
If you need a larger volume later, you can also resize the sparse image with the following command:
# hdiutil resize -size <new-size-you-want>g ~/android.dmg.sparseimage
android.dmg stored in your home directory, you can add helper functions to your ~/.bash_profile:
mountAndroid:
# mount the android file image
function mountAndroid { hdiutil attach ~/android.dmg -mountpoint /Volumes/android; }
Note: If your system created a .dmg.sparseimage file, replace ~/android.dmg with ~/android.dmg.sparseimage.
To unmount it when you execute umountAndroid:
# unmount the android file image
function umountAndroid() { hdiutil detach /Volumes/android; }
Once you've mounted the android volume, you'll do all your work there. You can eject it (unmount it) just like you would with an external drive.
The master and 5.0.x branches of Android in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP)
require Java 7. On Mac OS, use jdk-7u71-macosx-x64.dmg.
To develop for versions of Android Gingerbread through KitKat, download and install the Java 6 version of the Java JDK.
To build the latest source in a Mac OS environment, you will need an Intel/x86 machine running Mac OS X v10.8 (Mountain Lion) or later, along with Xcode 4.5.2 or later including the Command Line Tools.
To build 5.0.x and earlier source in a Mac OS environment, you will need an Intel/x86 machine running Mac OS X v10.8 (Mountain Lion), along with Xcode 4.5.2 and Command Line Tools.
To build 4.2.x and earlier source in a Mac OS environment, you will need an Intel/x86 machine running Mac OS X v10.6 (Snow Leopard) or Mac OS X v10.7 (Lion), along with Xcode 4.2 (Apple's Developer Tools). Although Lion does not come with a JDK, it should install automatically when you attempt to build the source.
The remaining sections for Mac OS apply only to those who wish to build earlier branches.
To build android-4.0.x and earlier branches in a Mac OS environment, you need an Intel/x86 machine running Mac OS X v10.5 (Leopard) or Mac OS X v10.6 (Snow Leopard). You will need the Mac OS X v10.5 SDK.
Install Xcode from the Apple developer site. We recommend version 3.1.4 or newer (e.g., gcc 4.2). Version 4.x could cause difficulties. If you are not already registered as an Apple developer, you will have to create an Apple ID in order to download.
Install MacPorts from macports.org.
Note: Make sure that /opt/local/bin appears in your path BEFORE /usr/bin. If not, add
export PATH=/opt/local/bin:$PATH
to your ~/.bash_profile.
Note: If you do not have a .bash_profile file in your home directory, create one.
Get make, git, and GPG packages from MacPorts:
$ POSIXLY_CORRECT=1 sudo port install gmake libsdl git gnupg
If using Mac OS X v10.4, also install bison:
$ POSIXLY_CORRECT=1 sudo port install bison
For versions of Android before ICS, there is a bug in gmake 3.82 that prevents android from building. You can install version 3.81 using MacPorts by taking the following steps:
Edit /opt/local/etc/macports/sources.conf and add a line that says
file:///Users/Shared/dports
above the rsync line. Then create this directory:
$ mkdir /Users/Shared/dports
In the new dports directory, run
$ svn co --revision 50980 http://svn.macports.org/repository/macports/trunk/dports/devel/gmake/ devel/gmake/
Create a port index for your new local repository:
$ portindex /Users/Shared/dports
Finally, install the old version of gmake with
$ sudo port install gmake @3.81
On Mac OS, the default limit on the number of simultaneous file descriptors open is too low and a highly parallel build process may exceed this limit.
To increase the cap, add the following lines to your ~/.bash_profile:
# set the number of open files to be 1024
ulimit -S -n 1024
You can optionally tell the build to use the ccache compilation tool.
Ccache acts as a compiler cache that can be used to speed up rebuilds.
This works very well if you use make clean often, or if you frequently
switch between different build products.
Put the following in your .bashrc (or equivalent):
export USE_CCACHE=1
By default the cache will be stored in ~/.ccache.
If your home directory is on NFS or some other non-local filesystem,
you will want to specify the directory in your .bashrc file as well:
export CCACHE_DIR=<path-to-your-cache-directory>
The suggested cache size is 50-100GB. You will need to run the following command once you have downloaded the source code:
prebuilts/misc/linux-x86/ccache/ccache -M 50G
On Mac OS, you should replace linux-x86 with darwin-x86:
prebuilts/misc/darwin-x86/ccache/ccache -M 50G
When building Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0.x) or older, ccache is in a different location:
prebuilt/linux-x86/ccache/ccache -M 50G
This setting is stored in the CCACHE_DIR and is persistent.
Your build environment is good to go! Proceed to downloading the source.