O.M.G Where is the begining?

[Hunsdale]

Ok so I am trying to learn about androids. The operating systems and the modding and what everything is because I find it very interesting. I cannot afford to go to school on a whim so my question is this.

Where in the fudge-ka-fuful-opigus is the begining?

Every time I try to read up on something it seems I have to know something else first. Basically I am wondering where is the begining.

deodex,busybox,rom explorer (with so many files and sub files)

Spoiler

Basically Its like someone says read up on busy box, well ok then

busy box- busy box is a program to sort the so and so files
me: wtf are those files?

Those file- Well these files are so and so and used to this the that
Me: Wtf? is the that

The that- well herp a derpin slurp
me: Arrrrrrrrgh

I just find it so confusing and I get that is what it is like for everyone in the begining Because we all know to be good at something you must have a good grip of the basics. Meaning if your playing soccer you cannot score a proper goal without learning to kick the ball and for that matter what a ball is.

So same thing applies here I cannot figure out how to mod and properly tweak my phone without knowing what the basics are.

So what do you say where do I start. What are the fundamentals to learning all this stuff.

- The terms used
- What each term really is
- how all the terms fit together to form a functioning device?

A kick in the right direction would be much apprecited !!!

 

[MoodyBlues]

Hi there, Hunsdale, and welcome aboard.

I must say your post made me chuckle. I totally hear what you're saying!

I'm probably not the best person to offer advice, because I have a long history of plunging in with reckless abandon and just DOING stuff. That's how I learned how to program and administer UNIX systems back in the '80s. :laugh:

You're definitely in the right place, i.e., Android Forums, as far as the best source for info, advice, help, and camaraderie with fellow Android users.

One thing to keep in mind is that you're not in a race with anyone to figure everything out RIGHT NOW. Take your time, read, decide what you want your device(s) to do, ask questions, explore options, etc.

A great place to start is with your device's specific forum. Let us know which device(s) you have and we'll point you to their boards, or just explore the site and look for them.

Finally, I can state with pretty good confidence that you don't need to know ANY of the complicated stuff in order to use your Android device. It's that intuitive. So if you're not highly motivated or in a hurry to customize it (as in rooting), just take your time and use its features via its icons and app drawer. Once you're comfortable with it, then move on to more complex stuff if you so desire.

 

[Thom]

Welcome to Android Forums.

The Android world is populated by hundreds of devices that are all different from many manufacturers and have over a million apps already available.

The key is to go slow.

If you have a device already ... what is it and who is your carrier?

The best advice is available from other users of your device and that is why Android Forums is structured the way it is.

We can move your thread to the forun that will best serve you if we know your device/carrier.

... Thom

 

[Hunsdale]

I have a galaxy S3 clone call haipai I9389 I think it is. It was a gift from someone and I have never had a smart phone before. Needless to say the battery sucked big floppy "south park reference but lets keep it clean". So I looked up how to better the battery and instantly came across roms and debloating the phone and a series of other things I am sure most people here are aware of. So I found a rom for my clone phone and read up on how to flash it etc.

- made a back up
- rooted my phone
- installed the drivers
- got the programs

And bam flashed the new rom on and it worked but shortly after I got this message " oh this has crashed and then about another app after that" Soon after I decided I want my old rom back. Turns out I backed it up improperly which I know now. Spent days looking for a stock rom for my phone and finally found one. Flashed it and then still had problems.

Long story short after a few flashes and system restore and cwm and try try try again it seem to finally be back in working order. In all this time I have developed this need to figure it all out as I usually do when I do not understand something. So now the path begins haha.

Thank your for your advice by the way I will do that. Take some time and figure out what I want and read up on how to do it. But again it leaves me with where do I start.

Biggest problem is this:

I see a folder or app and try to look up what it is. Now aside form the fact most of the terminology escapes me. I usally come across thread after thread after thread about what to do if you have a problem with that app or extention or whatever. All I really wanna know is What is it, What does it do, Is it critical to the phones stability and things like that.

Is there a site that tells you what things are because google for the first time is not helping. Go figure google seems to be a huge part of this phone and it seems to be the one time google cant help figure it out.

 

[Hunsdale]

Well it was ordered online as far as I know and its a clone so I do not think it has a carrier so to speak but it is a Hai Pai I9389

You have moved a few of my threads but this one I would like to stay here if it can because im really looking for general help and to be pointed in the right direction so I can begin learning more then I am looking for walkthroughs and how 2's

here let me give the best example I can

1. Picasa uploader - In titainium backup is has this little android symbol next to it so it makes me think it is a system app in some way. look it up and it says to upload to picasa and here is the thing

I dont know wtf a picasa is or if I will ever need it or use it and I do not wanna take it out because once or twice I ended up with a boot loop.

So what I asking most of all is how am I to know what something is and what it does when I type it into google and get nothing. Is there no site that explains what these things are and used for.

 

[Mikestony]

Welcome Hunsdale

So, simply put, you would like a dictionary of sorts for Android, where it explains in simple terms what each Android term is, and how its used correct? A one-stop-shop for beginners so-to-speak

I totally understand (if that is what you are inquiring about) ??

 

[Hunsdale]

Yes well put that is exactly what im looking for.....please tell me you know a good page and are not gonna say it does not exists stfu and go aimlessly look over the net haha

 

[Mikestony]

Yes well put that is exactly what im looking for.....please tell me you know a good page and are not gonna say it does not exists stfu and go aimlessly look over the net haha

go google it. Just kidding.

But hey, I totally understand where you are coming from!!
It can be overwhelming for sure. I will never know all the terminology and some times I feel so dumb when I don't know something.
However, I found this site a few years back and just started asking questions and all the members were friendly and helpful.

What I can tell you is, there is so much out there, and all you need to do is ask here. We can help, and first link I would like to give you is this:

FAQs - Android Forums

Check out all the Stickies..they are full of info. And trust me, if you are confused about something, just ask.
Yeah, you'll probably have alot of posts about different things, but that's o.k...that's how we all learn.

If I don't know an answer for you, We'll find it.
Someone will know the answer.
Someone here can help.



TLR....just ask here for any Android terminology you need help on.

If it's device specific, I see you have found where to post here

 

[Hunsdale]

Sweet in a quick browse I am already seeing a few things I wanna know. Ok I will scour the faq and see what i can pick up

I find it is always the hardest starting up because you know absolutely nothing and are lost. Like someone threw you a test and you never even heard of the subject. Hopefully this will help me get a base.

and like moody and thom said I will try and slow it down I feel like I just wanna know it all now which is probably half the reason I feel overwhelmed by it all

 

[Mikestony]

Sweet in a quick browse I am already seeing a few things I wanna know. Ok I will scour the faq and see what i can pick up

I find it is always the hardest starting up because you know absolutely nothing and are lost. Like someone threw you a test and you never even heard of the subject. Hopefully this will help me get a base.

and like moody and thom said I will try and slow it down I feel like I just wanna know it all now which is probably half the reason I feel overwhelmed by it all

You are exactly the way I was
Remember. Just ask

 

[Hunsdale]

OK I will Thank you and thanks to the other 2 for their advice as well

 

[SulkyAndroid17]

Maybe start with Linux for a base. Something like Linux Mint. How root works and why it's probably a good thing most people don't have it. Learn how to use the terminal. Like change directories, move files, copy/paste, etc. Also, how permissions work. There's a write up on this site somewhere, but I can't seem to find it. By learning this stuff you won't completely wtf when you need it in Android.

 

[Hunsdale]

Ok i will look into that as well. Linux is basically the operating system right?

change directories, move files, copy/paste, etc. Also, how permissions work

^^^ this i really wanna know as well since I open the root explorer and all the files im just like what is all this stuff.

 

[Rxpert83]

Ok i will look into that as well. Linux is basically the operating system right?

change directories, move files, copy/paste, etc. Also, how permissions work

^^^ this i really wanna know as well since I open the root explorer and all the files im just like what is all this stuff.

Yes, android is based on Linux, and runs a modified Linux kernel.

The different directories you see in a root explorer are the different portions of the OS. I wouldn't play with any of that if you aren't familiar with them


Simplified:

/boot contains your kernel

/system contains your ROM

/data contains the apps you install and your user data.

/storage is going to contain your files, pictures, ext

 

[SulkyAndroid17]

Ok i will look into that as well. Linux is basically the operating system right?.

Kinda. Linux is really the kernel. Because an operating system is the sum of its parts, a Linux distro is really a Gnu/Linux OS. Linux would only be the OS if it was the only thing installed. There are tons of Linux distros to choose. Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Arch, and Mint are some of the more popular ones.

 

[Hunsdale]

oh ya I see some things I recognize in a few of those spots. I downloaded rom toolbox pro because it seems to be an all in one app vs having a bunch of seperate apps.

Does that sound like a good idea or would it be better to have to specific apps?

Kinda. Linux is really the kernel. Because an operating system is the sum of its parts, a Linux distro is really a Gnu/Linux OS. Linux would only be the OS if it was the only thing installed. There are tons of Linux distros to choose. Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Arch, and Mint are some of the more popular ones.

Annnnnnnns you lost me haha sorry not your fault I got more learning to do b4 I get it.

This is why I wanna learn to its hard to take advice since I am so new I read advice and Still I feel lost. I can follow how 2 guides and kinda get through it but I wanna know it.

I have always been interested in this stuff just to much going on to really dive in.

I do not see a delte post button?

 

[Rxpert83]

I do not see a delte post button?

If you'd like a post moved/deleted/ect theres a little report /!\ button in the bottom left that will draw a mods attention to it and we can do whatever you'd like.

I have went ahead and merged the two posts in order to not disrupt the flow

 

[Hunsdale]

If you'd like a post moved/deleted/ect theres a little report /!\ button in the bottom left that will draw a mods attention to it and we can do whatever you'd like.

Ok I am just trying to avoid the multi posting because alot of forums i have been on seem to get pissed a such a simple thing.

 

[Thom]

I strongly recommend that you start with a device that is somewhat popular ... find its user area ... and pick the brains of the other users.

For me it was The Motorola Droid X. I still remember the two biggest confusions I had ... SD cards and volume controls.

The problem with the dictionary idea is that multiple manufacturers and multiple carriers have come up with multiple definitions for the same words ... like ...

-- SD card vs, internal memory vs, SD-Ext card vs. USB memory.
-- The difference in what SD card meant depending on what Android system version you were talking about.
-- Volume controls ... for starters there are five.
-- Hard Reset vs. soft reset

... Thom

 

[Hunsdale]

Ya I am kinda stuck right now. Going through some stuff so saving money is a must so i cannot just go out a buy another phone for learning purposes. But I do get your point. If I get the chance I would like to upgrade but until then I work With what I have.

If anyone has a phone they do not use and just wanna get rid of tho and feel like donating it to my learning I would be happy to pay the shipping

 

[Thom]

An older main stream phone might serve your purpose. The only point is to be using something that has some other users you can talk with. The "highly discounted clones" fail to have these communities.

The last time I counted there were over 600 different phones in Android Forums. You can spend an awful lot of time on working out the subtle differences when talking to someone who is not using your particular phone.

If they have exactly the same phone that you do and they tell you their's is root-ed you should assume it is not the same as yours. So that 600 number just went to 1,200. The reason is that there are solutions (and problems) available to them that are not available to you.

... Thom

 

[Hunsdale]

I see what you are saying because once it rooted all the roms that could be on it provide even more of a difference.

Guess I will have to play with mine and do what I can and jump on A chance I have to get a more popular model.

Or just really dive in and learn the ground up And basically build my own phone haha

 

[argedion]

The thing about learning is to allow yourself the time to absorb it all. As Mike stated I'm still learning. Just remember there are no dumb questions and the only thing stupid is keeping it to yourself

The best advice I can give is to get active with the forums. Learning others problems and how to solve them has taught me so much about my own devices that the benefits are indescribable. One always said the best way to learn is to teach.

PM, Start threads, Read threads, and most of all have FUN. Enjoy learning your device.

Remember what a wise man said once. "Be the ball"

 

[Hunsdale]

Ya some of the problems that have poped up use to frustrate me then I realized every problem is a chance to learn how to fix it and to be honest I am already getting better even if its only very small. But I will def. take your advice and read and ask and take my time.

I dunno if i can be the ball but I can def curl up and make an akward oval

 

[Thom]

Learning is why I'm here.

If it's about Android ... Android Forums is the place to be.

... Thom