The mobile operating system Android is based on the Linux kernel, but this is not a standard kernel; it's a heavily modified one. It includes "upgrades" from Google, chip manufacturers like Qualcomm and MediaTek, as well as OEMs. However, it is now reported that the "company of goodness" its system to the main version of the kernel.
At this year’s Linux Plumbers conference, Google engineers discussed this topic. It is expected to reduce costs and overhead for support, benefit the Linux project as a whole, enhance performance, and increase the battery life of devices. It will also allow for quicker deployment of updates and reduce fragmentation.
The first step in this process is to merge as many modifications of Android into the main Linux kernel as possible. As of February 2018, the total Android kernel (which manufacturers add additional changes to) has more than 32,000 additions and over 1,500 deletions compared to the main version of Linux 4.14.0. This is an improvement compared to a few years ago when Android added over 60,000 lines of code to Linux.
The Android kernel still receives modifications from chip manufacturers (e.g., Qualcomm and MediaTek) and from OEMs (e.g., Samsung and LG). Google enhanced this process in 2017 with Project Treble, which separates device-specific drivers from the rest of Android. The company aims to integrate this technology into the main Linux kernel, potentially eliminating the need for separate kernels for each device and further speeding up the Android update process.
The idea proposed by Google engineers is to create an interface in the Linux kernel that would allow proprietary device drivers to work as plug-in modules. This would allow Project Treble to function within the standard Linux kernel.
Interestingly, some members of the Linux community are opposed to the idea of transitioning Android to it. The reason is the very rapid process of modifications and changes in the standard kernel, while proprietary systems "carry along" the entire burden of compatibility with older versions.
Thus, it is still unclear when the transition of Android to the standard Linux kernel and the integration of the Project Treble system will occur and reach release. However, the idea itself is quite interesting and promising.
Source: 3dnews.ru
