[Q] Do I need to write drivers?

cnayan · Feb 21, 2014

I have fair number of years of programming behind me. But I haven't tried anything for Android, as I dislike Java.

But I want to try. I want to make something that works at low level, say, like a firewall. It acts as a filter between two communicating parties/devices.

To write anything like that, can someone suggest which is the best approach - code in Java (if it can perform such a feast) or code driver in C?

Thanks much!

Regards,
Nayan

Sent from my Micromax A117 using xda app-developers app

EmptinessFiller · Feb 22, 2014

The interesting thing in such low level projects is the entry point: So for a firewall you only have to acces iptables because android has linux kernel. So no C-part, no drivers, only plain java. See AFWall, it's an open source firewall.

cnayan · Feb 22, 2014

EmptinessFiller said:
The interesting thing in such low level projects is the entry point: So for a firewall you only have to acces iptables because android has linux kernel. So no C-part, no drivers, only plain java. See AFWall, it's an open source firewall.

Excellent! I would certainly study AFWall. Thanks for the reference.

But actually, my quest doesn't stop here.

I am exploring Android, and Google's restriction of "UI to be built only via Java". (I am not interested in scripting and widgets for now, unless they are absolutely needed.)

I want to know the answers for same question (driver or app) for the following:
* Network Filter [EmptinessFiller, you already answered this as Java]
* Disk (SD cards) (for many various purposes) - file system should not block the intention, hopefully.
* USB filter
* SMS filter

I am still thinking of other categories. Will write more later.

Please suggest and refer. Thanks again!

EmptinessFiller · Feb 22, 2014

General answer: Your app is always built in java. (It's UI components, it's LifeCycle (Activity, Service, Broadcastreceiver))
You may include native code, but that does not have more possibilities. It's only a little bit quicker.

Forgotten: If you have root, you may want to change some binaries, because you can't change things in an app. There you need native code of course.

cnayan · Feb 22, 2014

EmptinessFiller said:
You may include native code, but that does not have more possibilities. It's only a little bit quicker.

Shame, isn't it? Too much power in Java's hand

EmptinessFiller said:
Forgotten: If you have root, you may want to change some binaries, because you can't change things in an app. There you need native code of course.

My point exactly! Low level stuff is best written in native code.

But right now, I am learning how to.

nikwen · Feb 23, 2014

cnayan said:
Shame, isn't it? Too much power in Java's hand

My point exactly! Low level stuff is best written in native code.

But right now, I am learning how to.

Have a look at the Android NDK and this guide about the development of root apps.

cnayan · Feb 23, 2014

nikwen said:
Have a look at the Android NDK and this guide about the development of root apps.

Thanks for the link. Good stuff, but won't help in my targets... unless an example is seen.

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[Q] Do I need to write drivers?

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