Root Mod a mod to add custom apks preinstalled?

[droidzone]

Hi..

I've had problems with Gmail and Maps applications previously with Neophyte ROMs. In that case one of the solutions was removing the apks for these apps from with the /system/app folder of the ROM zip.

My question is:
Is it possible to add our own apks to the custom ROM so that these apks come preinstalled on the ROM when someone flashes it..in a manner, a kind of 2nd generation mod?

Is it possible to add our own system variables and settings files so that the ROM autoinstalls it on First Install? In particular, I'd like to preset my own APN file for the network.

 

[SUroot]

These questions may need to be asked over at xda. In regards to question 1, I tried to replace android browser with the hTC one, but that failed. I believe some .apks can be just put in there though.

 

[droidzone]

I too tried with some Google apks-Didnt work at all. I'm guessing there are some config variables or files that need modification. I've opened a thread at xda.

 

[anoniemouse]

Would that not be possible in the kitchen over at xda?

 

[droidzone]

Would that not be possible in the kitchen over at xda?

Certainly,but I'd have to rely on Paul's kitchen. I'm trying to delve into the secrets myself. To understand how we cam mod it without waiting for a build from a dev.

 

[SUroot]

It may well be a case of having to recompile the rom... Could be a lot of work.

Defrost now have an additional zip for adding applications after the rom. Might be worth looking into how that works.

Edit> I have asked for you (us)

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=690477&page=1183

 

[droidzone]

Thanks! I had opened a thread too, but the response has been rather lukewarm and not with exhaustive inputs as I'd hoped.

 

[droidzone]

It may well be a case of having to recompile the rom... Could be a lot of work.

Was hoping for an easier solution!

Defrost now have an additional zip for adding applications after the rom. Might be worth looking into how that works.

I will.

To unravel this, I guess I need a more thorough understanding of the installation process..of how an API call for an installation is handled..what files/file entries are modified etc.

 

[SUroot]

The .zip on defrost sounds like it puts it into data/app

There is some sort of script informing clockwork what to do. I will download it and have a look.

 

[droidzone]

The .zip on defrost sounds like it puts it into data/app

There is some sort of script informing clockwork what to do. I will download it and have a look.

Thanks..Waiting to hear ur inputs..

 

[SUroot]

no, it is system/app, however not sure what the script is so can't open it here.

The file link to look at is:

http://xda.b42.nl/richardtrip/DeFroST_4.8_Apps.zip

Maybe you can make more sense of it than me.

 

[droidzone]

Just had a look..It seems like a directory framework with files included. But the included script doesnt look like much. Leads me to think the real script if any is coded into Defrost. So this file is to be included along with the ROM installation, and is not an addon update.zip?

 

[droidzone]

And the script is named 'showprogress', maybe that's all that it does?

 

[SUroot]

It is an add on, you just flash it via defrost setup or clockworkmod

Script is Meta-Inf\com\google\android\update-script Where did you get "show progress"?

 

[droidzone]

It is an add on, you just flash it via defrost setup or clockworkmod

Script is Meta-Inf\com\google\android\update-script Where did you get "show progress"?

Sorry, that was the code inside the script(update-script).

show_progress 0.1 0
  copy_dir PACKAGE:system SYSTEM:
  show_progress 0.2 10

Guess the script does what it says,Copy the included files to update the system according to the directory structure inside the zip. Simple and effective I guess. Wonder if it's a defrost feature or common to Android.

 

[SUroot]

It might only work on that framework but I have no idea. Do a nandroid backup then flash from clockwork... see of it works.... would be very interesting

 

[droidzone]

It might only work on that framework but I have no idea. Do a nandroid backup then flash from clockwork... see of it works.... would be very interesting

Will try it out..

 

[droidzone]

Tried it out on AuraxTsense..Piece of cake..Removed all the apps from the zip from /system/app, added 11 of my own, and flash updated in recovery.

On reboot, 9 of 11 apps were installed. 2 failed, though it is possible that they were incompatible with Froyo even from start. Next, to try flashing without the Google certificates and with a skeletal framework just including the apks and paths.

 

[SUroot]

Cool

 

[droidzone]

Isn't it? There were a few posts in Xda on this in the past. Found it just now that I have a clearer picture of what I'm searching for. Used the script file as the search term and look what it turned up..

Check this out:
[Courtesy: www.robmcghee.com]

Creating an update.zip package is quite easy in fact. For example, to add a (valid) test.apk package to your rom:
- create an empty folder <workdir>
- create folder structure for test.apk (<workdir>/system/app) and copy the test.apk
- create folder structure for update-script (<workdir>/META-INF/com/google/android)
- edit <workdir>/META-INF/com/google/android/update-script
- put in it:

show_progress 0.1 0

copy_dir PACKAGE:system SYSTEM:
set_perm_recursive 0 0 0755 0644 SYSTEM:app
show_progress 0.1 10


- compress the <workdir> content to zip (not the <workdir> folder itself)
Now you are going to sign the zip file. Download testsign.zip and copy it in your <SDK>/tools folder. Extract it here. It should create a sign subfolder with a testsign.jar file in it.
Then in the command prompt/terminal, from <workdir> folder, do:

java -classpath <SDK>/tools/sign/testsign.jar" testsign file.zip file-signed.zip

Ok, now your zip file is ready to be deployed using the &#8220;Flash zip from sdcard&#8221; option in a recovery image.

I played around the file a bit before finding this post. But I've found that the signing is not really necessary. I've toggled off my signature verification, so that's probably why I didnt need it. But if signature is included, apparently any apk can be installed!

Edit: There's no need to manually sign each time. If the apks are just added to the file you found, they will install. I've uploaded it for future reference.

 

[SUroot]

You're a star. Clockwork doesn't need signed

I wonder how we can work out how much space we have to play with in system/app?

Where's teppic74?

 

[droidzone]

My first guess would be that it must be unlimited

 

[SUroot]

Actually quick system info shows system storage. I have 148MB free. May see what I can do here

 

[Karlohumpy]

So would you be able to transfer the sense camera to defrost for example.

I tried it and failed, but admittedly I know nothing about this sort of stuff.

 

[SUroot]

Doubtful. I think the HTC apps may rely on the HTC kernel?