[DISCONTINUED][GSI][9][Reference] LineageOS 16.0 GSI (all archs) and how to build them

[AndyYan]

Background:
We've been offered LOS 16 GSIs in the past (here, and here), but they haven't been updated in quite a while, so as a LineageOS lover, I decided to step up and do it myself. Turns out it wasn't so easy - there were a number of hurdles that prevented it from building properly, booting or being feature-complete. But here I am, having figured out most if not all what's needed, and verified booting on an arm64 ab device I own, I'm ready to share my findings as well as some builds with you.

Disclaimer:
This is still mostly a LineageOS team / PHH @phhusson effort, credits to them and all associated for making all this possible.
No instructions will be offered. If you're here in this forum, you should know what you're doing.
No guarantees that everything would work. This is a GSI, bugs are bound to happen.
Do not report hardware-related bugs in this thread. I am selfish and only care about getting it running on my device with whatever features I need working. Plus I'm not PHH and can't solve any either.

Download:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/andyyan-gsi/files/
Compressed as .xz archives - extract first.
Vanilla except for these changes:

• Modifications needed to make it build/boot/feature-complete, see below
• Disabled "vendor mismatch" warning on boot
• Re-enabled lockscreen shortcuts
• Default stretch-to-fullscreen (force apps to render in 18:9)

Extra tip:
If you have a relatively low-end device and experience UI stutters, try this simple build.prop trick (technically a debug property, so use at your own risk). Thanks @SnapTheRipper for bringing it up!

Modifications needed (builders-only):
Now for the juicy part. On top of PHH's already fantastic build script, you'll need these:
device/phh/treble:

• Revert Update lineage.mk for LineageOS 16.0 - add back LOS sepolicy, so that LOS-specific features like Profiles, LiveDisplay, Styles, Trust would work
• Revert exfat fsck/mkfs selinux label - fix a conflict in doing so

build/make:

• Revert Enable dyanmic image size for GSI - fix building

external/tinycompress:

• Revert tinycompress: Use generated kernel headers - remove dependency on generated kernel headers

frameworks/base:

• Revert Initial support for in-display fingerprint sensors - use PHH's implementation

vendor/lineage:

• Apply build/soong/Android.bp: Disable generated_kernel_* - disable generating kernel headers, since GSIs don't have a kernel
• Revert lineage: Enforce privapp-permissions whitelist, or change it to log

vendor/qcom/opensource/cryptfs_hw:

• Revert cryptfs_hw: Use generated kernel headers - remove dependency on generated kernel headers
• Apply [TEMP]: Header hack to compile for 8974 - fix a missing header

And that's it. Doesn't look like much, but most are pretty hacky solutions, and I don't expect them to be merged anywhere. As I said, I'm only interested in getting it running, I don't care what it takes.

Stuff on GitHub (builders-only):
I've also collected necessary scripts/patches and uploaded them: treble_build_los, treble_patches (PHH's treble_patches adjusted for LOS). Not the cleanest code, but should help if you still need more clues.

Donate?
https://paypal.me/AndyCGYan

Thanks for reading - I hope this could be of use to fellow LineageOS lovers / home builders.

 

[GuestK00171]

Is there any chance for A-only 64 build?

 

[Dejvid50]

Is there any chance for A-only 64 build?

I hope will be for A-only too.. many people would welcome it . :silly:

 

[AndyYan]

Is there any chance for A-only 64 build?

I hope will be for A-only too.. many people would welcome it . :silly:

Done, check OP. I can't spare an A-only device to test it though, try at your own risk.
EDIT: might have to wait for SF to mirror the file...

 

[GuestK00171]

Done, check OP. I can't spare an A-only device to test it though, try at your own risk.
EDIT: might have to wait for SF to mirror the file...

Thank you very much!!! Will test and give feedback....ist it build on latest Phhs V111?

 

[odysseus84]

Cool, which one is the a-only? ...it's not clearly writen

 

[Abdullah S.A.]

Cool, which one is the a-only? ...it's not clearly writen

I thought it's the avN one. (Didn't boot on my phone.)

 

[AndyYan]

As of now I've received 1 report of A-only booting up alright. Although I don't take hardware-related bug reports, it's advised to post whether it boots on your device so as to let other users know.

Thank you very much!!! Will test and give feedback....ist it build on latest Phhs V111?

Not sure how I could determine that, but it's fresh synced.

Cool, which one is the a-only? ...it's not clearly writen

avN, bvN - not clear enough?

 

[GuestK00171]

Thanks again for A-only build...tested and works great on MiMax3 with stock PIE vendor!!!

Only thing not working is equalizer for audio, opens a empty screen but no FC or error message...but ringtone, music etc. working.

 

[MadalinC]

Just tested this on a Nokia 7 Plus (B2N) with the bvN images. Everything seems to work just fine, except for VoLTE/VoWiFi (which I don't care that much about anyways...).

Voice calls, Camera, MusicFX, Fingerprint, Bluetooth, LTE, all work as expected. Will come back after some usage with more info about battery life and such.
@AndyYan Awesome stuff, Andy! Thank you for this guide--will try to build it myself soon enough after I run your build for a few days to test.

By the way, do you think this will get OTA updates from LineageOS? The updater seems to work as expected, but haven't seen any new options there yet.

Thanks again!

 

[AndyYan]

By the way, do you think this will get OTA updates from LineageOS? The updater seems to work as expected, but haven't seen any new options there yet.

Nope, LOS team even stated explicitly they won't be making any official GSIs.

 

[MadalinC]

Nope, LOS team even stated explicitly they won't be making any official GSIs.

Oh, that is very unfortunate. It is running really smooth as a GSI

So that means that each security patch comes out, I will need to start from scratch and reflash the image? That would make it a bit a pain each month

Anyways, thanks for the quick reply!

 

[odysseus84]

On the Galaxy S9: I dirty flashed it over vanilla phh 111 to see if it boots. It did with the usual force close of course.
Then I wiped and reflashed. But stuck at the boot animation. The splash screen was there for a half century too... my guess is the ramdisk stoff from the kernel. there are some other Kernel version I will try those later.

 

[AndyYan]

So that means that each security patch comes out, I will need to start from scratch and reflash the image?

Just flash the image on top (along with whatever mods you're using), no wipe needed. It works like flashing ROMs on a regular A-only device.

 

[HueyT]

Just flash the image on top (along with whatever mods you're using), no wipe needed. It works like flashing ROMs on a regular A-only device.

Any chance of arm-a LOS16 build?

 

[Dejvid50]

Done, check OP. I can't spare an A-only device to test it though, try at your own risk.
EDIT: might have to wait for SF to mirror the file...

Now I'm busy, at night I will try to flash and will report. Thanks for your work
EDIT: Ok, so I was try to flash on Huawei P10 Lite with OpenGapps, and can't boot, no logo, just goes to recovery, that's all.. I was WIPE system, data, cache, dalvik cache

 

[drxllxffxct]

Thanks again for A-only build...tested and works great on MiMax3 with stock PIE vendor!!!

Only thing not working is equalizer for audio, opens a empty screen but no FC or error message...but ringtone, music etc. working.

do you mind sharing the instructions for flashing the gsi? im on the latest pie beta on my max3.

 

[HueyT]

do you mind sharing the instructions for flashing the gsi? im on the latest pie beta on my max3.

Do u have TWRP recovery?

 

[woofwoof75]

Finally there's a LOS 16 GSI! I have been looking to try to compile my own with phh build script.

Sorry which one should I use _avN or _bvN if I have an A Only Arm64 (Wayne).

I tried to flash the _avN and got stuck at the Mi logo.

Thank you very much to do the work.

Sent from my Mi MIX 2 using XDA Labs

 

[sinkoo1979]

Boots on Razer phone 1 but no wifi or data. Everything else seems to work. Thank you for the rom (no wifi or data razer phone problem).