Will Android Become Closed Source? Google Plans to End AOSP Support
Google announced that starting next week it will cease maintenance of the Android Open Source Project, shifting all Android development to internal branches, which means only Google employees can access AOSP, limiting external developers and ROM creators while having limited impact on major OEMs.
On March 27, Google confirmed it will stop maintaining the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), meaning future Android development will be conducted solely within Google.
Starting next week, Android development will be fully transferred to internal Google branches, and the CI/CD tools and Android Gerrit associated with AOSP may be shut down.
This implies that only Google employees will be able to access internal AOSP branches or submit code, making the Android development process no longer transparent to the public.
Analysts say the move will have limited impact on major smartphone manufacturers, but individual ROM developers and users who flash devices may face additional technical hurdles.
The Android Open Source Project, led by Google, provides the foundational framework and core components for all Android device operating systems.
It allows developers to freely download, modify, and distribute its code, building customized systems such as Xiaomi HyperOS, vivo OriginOS, OPPO ColorOS, and even the Android system on Pixel phones, all of which are based on AOSP.
Google maintains Android via two paths: a public AOSP branch open to global developers that contains pure open‑source code without any Google proprietary services, and an internal closed‑source branch reserved for manufacturers that have signed the Google Mobile Services (GMS) agreement.
Source: Internet.
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