Porting LineageOS to an Unsupported Device (with no similar devices)

[vinaypundith]

Hi,
I am trying to port LineageOS to an unsupported device, an IBall Slide Cuddle A4.
Here's the guide I'm following : https://fat-tire.github.io/porting-intro.html
This is the part where I need help:

"Add the blobs to the vendor/ directory

Once you have a working recovery, it's now time to get CyanogenMod building and working.

The first thing to do is to get all the proprietary, binary blobs into the vendor/ folder, along with a .mk file that will include them in the final build.

This requires three steps:

Create extract-files.sh and setup-makefiles.sh scripts to pull those blob files from the device using adb and put them in the right /vendor/ directory. There are plenty of examples available for other devices.
Create an .mk Makefile to copy those files to the $OUT folder during the build process and put them in the right place. Again, use other devices as a guide for what this Makefile should look like. An example filename might be BoardConfigVendor.mk
Make sure that the Makefile you just created is included from your main BoardConfig.mk via a command such as -include vendor/[vendor]/[codename]/BoardConfigVendor.mk. Again, existing devices can illustrate how this is done.

Now revise the device/ directory

Since you have a working recovery, go back and start modifying the files in the device/ folder. As always, use other similar devices as a reference.

You now have a easy means to do backups and test your builds. So start tweaking the device folder itself, and see if you get it to boot... Once you do, from there its a matter of building and supporting the various parts and peripherals, one-by-one. "

Q #1: Where all should I look on my device for the proprietary blobs, and what do they look like? Can I manually extract them out of my existing ROM and paste them into the proper folder of the new one?
Q #2: What do I modify in the device/ folder?
Q #3: What does it mean to "build and support the various parts and peripherals" Does this mean to add the necessary drivers? If so, can I get these drivers from the stock ROM?

The reason I have to ask this here is because my device has NO similar LineageOS-supported devices with the same chipset for me to refer to. My tablet has a MediaTek MT8392 chipset, and I couldn't find any supported devices with an MT8392 (or an MT6592, which is very similar). Also, there is NO code available from the manufacturer, at all. The only resource I have is a stock ROM.
Are there any other ways in which a device can be similar enough for me to use as reference?

It would be really nice if someone could provide links to articles explaining the above 3 things, or if someone has already gone through this process, share their experience.

Also, will my kernel (v3.4.67) be compatible with the latest LineageOS 16 / Android 9 or will I have to build an earlier version?

I am very new to Android development, but that doesn't mean that I can't learn!

 

[kurtn]

That's a hard task for getting started. A mtk device with no twrp available. I recommend to start with low hanging fruits. Like buying an old phone with dropped lineageOS support and building an updated version.

 

[vinaypundith]

I understand that it is quite difficult. So instead of doing a full port myself, I am now trying the method of taking an image made for a similar MTK device and transferring the device-specific files from my stock ROM, as shown in the following guide:
https://www.techubng.com/2017/09/how-to-port-lineage-os-14-nougat-rom-on-mtk.html
It says:
"From System/lib/hw: Delete all mt6572.so blobs and replace with these blobs: DOWNLOAD BLOBS

Now copy these files from stock to port:

System/lib/hwcomposer.mt65xx.so
System/lib/gralloc
System/lib/lib.audio.primary.so
Systemlib/lib.mali.soS
System/Etc
System/lib/libcameracustom.so
System/etc/firmware
System/lib/libfeatureio.so
boot/kernel
boot/unventd.rc (only if you are getting stuck at logo)
boot/Replace only camera lines under #Camera from stock boot.img init.rc to init.mt6572.rclib/libcamdrv.solib/libcamalgo.so"

But my stock ROM does not have any of the files he listed uner /system/lib! Can I ignore these files, or is there some other place where these files could be? (I checked /vendor)
Also, what about all the other files in /system/lib? Which ones are device-specific and does anything else need to be copied into the new ROM?

As for the TWRP, I have found tools like Easy Magic TWRP Installer ( https://forum.hovatek.com/thread-5162.html ) which will automatically do the porting given the boot.img and recovery.img from the stock ROM. Are these safe to use, as long as I provide the right info to the tool?

I want to use LineageOS on this tablet because the stock OS has some annoying bugs and is quite old (Android 4.4.2) considering how recent the tablet is and how much capability the tablet's hardware has. The manufacturer (IBall) has provided no updates at all.

 

[Danbrown45]

Lineage OS on Samsung Galaxy J3 Achieve (SM-J337P)

Can I pay a developer to make a working ROM to put Lineage OS on the Samsung Galaxy J3 Achieve (SM-J337P) ?

If so, how do I find a developer who can do it?

 

[YggH]

hey, i have a sm-t280 that have a similar supported device. how i port to it?

i have a sm-t280 that i wan't to update the android. the only exit i found it's build linegeos or aosp for it, can anyone help me?

here is the source tree:
vendor tree: huttps://github.com/gtexswifi/android_vendor_samsung_gtexswifi
-----
device tree: huttps://github.com/gtexswifi/android_device_samsung_gtexswifi
-----
kernel tree: huttps://github.com/pfent/sm-t280-kernel
[i writed huttps because i don't have posted 10 posts already]

 

[khronus]

Porting similar device mt6750t

I understand that it is quite difficult. So instead of doing a full port myself, I am now trying the method of taking an image made for a similar MTK device and transferring the device-specific files from my stock ROM, as shown in the following guide:
https://www.techubng.com/2017/09/how-to-port-lineage-os-14-nougat-rom-on-mtk.html
It says:
"From System/lib/hw: Delete all mt6572.so blobs and replace with these blobs: DOWNLOAD BLOBS

Now copy these files from stock to port:

System/lib/hwcomposer.mt65xx.so
System/lib/gralloc
System/lib/lib.audio.primary.so
Systemlib/lib.mali.soS
System/Etc
System/lib/libcameracustom.so
System/etc/firmware
System/lib/libfeatureio.so
boot/kernel
boot/unventd.rc (only if you are getting stuck at logo)
boot/Replace only camera lines under #Camera from stock boot.img init.rc to init.mt6572.rclib/libcamdrv.solib/libcamalgo.so"

But my stock ROM does not have any of the files he listed uner /system/lib! Can I ignore these files, or is there some other place where these files could be? (I checked /vendor)
Also, what about all the other files in /system/lib? Which ones are device-specific and does anything else need to be copied into the new ROM?

As for the TWRP, I have found tools like Easy Magic TWRP Installer ( https://forum.hovatek.com/thread-5162.html ) which will automatically do the porting given the boot.img and recovery.img from the stock ROM. Are these safe to use, as long as I provide the right info to the tool?

I want to use LineageOS on this tablet because the stock OS has some annoying bugs and is quite old (Android 4.4.2) considering how recent the tablet is and how much capability the tablet's hardware has. The manufacturer (IBall) has provided no updates at all.

I saw Lineage OS 16 for HomTom S99….
I have HomTom HT70 with same Chipset of HomTom S99 MT6750T….
Im trying to read and follow carefully your guide but still i have bootloop..
Is it Possible to Port it to Homtom HT70 so we can have Android 9 too??

https://xdaforums.com/general/devic...tom-ht70-6-0-hd-189-mt6750t-4gb-64gb-t3803052

 

[AlexRsl1999]

hey, I have a samsung j7 j700t (t-mobile), and if it has a similar version that is the j700f / h / m, but I have tried it and it does not work for me. What do I have to do to make it work for me? Help me please!!!

 

[kurtn]

hey, I have a samsung j7 j700t (t-mobile), and if it has a similar version that is the j700f / h / m, but I have tried it and it does not work for me. What do I have to do to make it work for me? Help me please!!!

Different processsor. J700t is Qualcomm. J700f is exynos

 

[AlexRsl1999]

Different processsor. J700t is Qualcomm. J700f is exynos

But my processor is Exynos 7580 to 1.5GHz

 

[SpaceSaver2000]

But my processor is Exynos 7580 to 1.5GHz

If you haven't already, I'd recommend checking in Geekbench as there's a lot of conflicting information on the web. Usually, Samsung only puts the Exynos chip in GSM only devices sold outside the US.

 

[YomaAroriode]

There is a custom rom for a variant of my device (Huawei g760) please how can i make it work on my device (Huawei g7-UL20) they both have the same specs and processor everything is the same

 

[kurtn]

There is a custom rom for a variant of my device (Huawei g760) please how can i make it work on my device (Huawei g7-UL20) they both have the same specs and processor everything is the same

Have you unlocked the bootloader, before huawei stopped allowing it?

 

[YomaAroriode]

Have you unlocked the bootloader, before huawei stopped allowing it?

Yes my bootloader is unlocked

 

[YomaAroriode]

Have you unlocked the bootloader, befes ore huawei stopped allowing it?

Yes my bootloader is unlocked

 

[YomaAroriode]

I followed this guide: https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-porting-twrp-without-source.3843473/
And ported the twrp recovery made for huawei g760 to my g7-UL20

 

[YomaAroriode]

Now how do i modify the custom rom for it to work on my device. Please i need your help!!

 

[Bloodstalker82]

That's a hard task for getting started. A mtk device with no twrp available. I recommend to start with low hanging fruits. Like buying an old phone with dropped lineageOS support and building an updated version.

Hi there, I just noticed this reply you had made and I have a question about a device that may have had Lineage support.

What I would like to do, once I have my new phone that is, is to take my current phone Motorola Edge+ (2020) and turn it into a small Lineage tablet.

However, there is one slight problem with this, and that is rhat there is currently no Lineage support for this device, but there is support for it's younger brother the Motorola Edge (2020).

Now I do know that porting is possible between devices, but I've seen a lot of guides says they should have the certain similarities such as processor and such.

However the CPU, GPU and Chipset are slightly different (Same brands though), will this pose a problem in porting?

I of course do realize that I will of course need the proprietary blobs from Motorola for this device and I believe I have found them.

Finally, I am curious if you know of any up to date guides on porting? I will of course continue researching myself, however I thought I would make an enquiry anyway.

Any help you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated.

Bloodstalker

 

[kurtn]

Hi there, I just noticed this reply you had made and I have a question about a device that may have had Lineage support.

What I would like to do, once I have my new phone that is, is to take my current phone Motorola Edge+ (2020) and turn it into a small Lineage tablet.

However, there is one slight problem with this, and that is rhat there is currently no Lineage support for this device, but there is support for it's younger brother the Motorola Edge (2020).

Now I do know that porting is possible between devices, but I've seen a lot of guides says they should have the certain similarities such as processor and such.

However the CPU, GPU and Chipset are slightly different (Same brands though), will this pose a problem in porting?

I of course do realize that I will of course need the proprietary blobs from Motorola for this device and I believe I have found them.

Finally, I am curious if you know of any up to date guides on porting? I will of course continue researching myself, however I thought I would make an enquiry anyway.

Any help you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated.

Bloodstalker

Install a gsi

https://xdaforums.com/t/gsi-rom-s-for-motorola-edge.4218681/

 

[Bloodstalker82]

Thank you very much for your reply. I had seen that I could uae a GSI, however I had not realized it is actually possible with Lineage. I clearly misread the topic.

 

[w_tapper]

That's a hard task for getting started. A mtk device with no twrp available. I recommend to start with low hanging fruits. Like buying an old phone with dropped lineageOS support and building an updated version.

yo i have a phone with an unofficial version of lineageos 15.1 (Lenovo K8 Note) how would i go about building that newer version