Constantly, I have to debug with Android open source code, to use some private APIs or to test some hidden features.

Building AOSP

Just follow the instructions from http://source.android.com/source/building-devices.html, make sure to get the vendor binaries at first https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/drivers.

It’s also important to use correct software versions, e.g. Java 6 or Python 2. I haven’t tried to find the best method to manage multiple java or python implementations, just on my most dirty way.

Only two problem occurred during my build for flo (new Nexus 7), issues #22231 and #60234.

Flash device

Run adb reboot bootloader to get into the boot loader, then unlock it with fastboot oem unlock, and flash AOSP with fastboot -w flashall.

The Superuser is a useful tool, it needs to be flashed to device, with ClockworkMod recovery.

adb push superuser.zip /sdcard/
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot boot recovery.img

Hack module

After the full build and flash, you don’t need to build the full platform again, just build the specific module with mmm, e.g.

mmm frameworks/av/media/libstagefright

After that, use adb to push the built library to /system/lib/

adb root
adb remount
adb push $BUILD_DIR/target/product/flo/system/lib/libstagefright.so /system/lib/

Then just hack the platform!