Throughout its existence, Android has been an open source project, which has been developed in public and in collaboration with the community and based on an open platform to which any manufacturer can be added. Next week, one of those things will change.
In a surprising change and whose consequences are not yet clear, Android’s development will become private; In other words, Google will develop Android in secret and without informing the general public or the developers of the changes that are implementing in the operating system. For the average user, this should not suppose any difference in their experience; But for enthusiasts, it is the end of an era.
First of all, we must clarify that when we talk about ‘Android’, we are actually talking about AOSP (Android Open Source Project)the core of the open source operating system from which a complete system can be developed. All Android versions used in mobile phones, tablets and other devices are based on AOSP, and that includes Google’s ‘official’ version in the Pixel, but also projects that modify the system as Hyperos of Xiaomi and Huawei Harmonyos. AOSP is an open system under Apache 2.0 license, and that means anyone can download the code and modify it without paying Google or publishing the modifications.
However, AOSP is different from other open source projects in the sense that Google is its unique developer. Although the company officially accepts contributions from other developers, in practice almost the entire Android code is programmed by Google engineers, which is published so that everyone can see it. And over the years, that has generated a problem.
As Google develops Android on your own, in reality You are maintaining two separate projects at the same time; On the one hand, there is the public AOSP version that everyone can see, and on the other, the version in which Google engineers are working. Although it seems strange, there are actually differences between both versions, simply by the way in which responsibilities and development teams are divided.
For example, some AOSP components, such as everything related to Bluetooth connectivity, develop publicly and remain updated in the public version of AOSP. But other components, such as those related to the system core, develop privately in the internal version of Google. That assumes that, at any time, there may be differences between both versions, and also It is continuous maintenance to ensure that the public version of AOSP is functional; For example, sometimes engineers have had to solve conflicts between two parts of the system in the two AOSP versions.
This constant maintenance and the resources spent is the reason that Google contributes to to make the controversial decision to make Google’s development. The company has been quick to clarify Android Authority that This does not mean that Android has become private, and the code will continue with a free license. The main change is that, from next week, the public version of AOSP will only be updated with each new version of Android, and not constantly as until now.
For the end user, this should not mean anything. After all, the Android versions we use have been modified from AOSP by the manufacturers (which continue to have access to the private version of Google), and although Google states that this change will make the most efficient development, it is unlikely that the new versions of Android will arrive before.
Those who can be affected by the change are the enthusiasts who review the Android source code in search of novelties, and now they will have to wait to see them at the same time as everyone. Some developers can also be affecteds, especially those who want to contribute to AOSP or record changes and want to be up to date; Although Apps developers should not notice the difference, since Google already announces the changes in the platform when necessary.
Interestingly, the specialized press as the Spanish – the free android will surely be the great initially affected; Many Android -related leaks come from code published in AOSP. For example, it is sometimes possible to find references to products that have not yet been announced or functions that are still in development. So we can expect Less Android leaks and Google products.
Therefore, it is initially unlikely that this change in Android will be a big difference for most people; Another issue is what it is long term. No one escapes that this decision Give greater control to Google About Android, since only licensed developers can access AOSP private development.
With this change, Google is also protected from criticism of future controversial decisions In the system, as changes that can affect users and that will only be discovered when and how the company decides. Finally, with this type of decisions there always appears the fear that, one day, Google can decide to turn Android into a private project like iOS and end the ecosystem as such.
