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Android (operating system) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Android is a Linux distribution according to the Linux Foundation[110] and Google's open-source chief, Chris DiBona.[111] Others, such as Google engineer Patrick Brady, disagree that it is a Linux distribution, noting the lack of support for many GNU tools in Android, including glibc.[112]

Software stack
On top of the Linux kernel, there are the middleware, libraries and APIs written in C, and application software running on an application framework which includes Java-compatible libraries based on Apache Harmony. Android uses the Dalvik virtual machine with just-in-time compilation to run Dalvik "dex-code" (Dalvik Executable), which is usually translated from the Java bytecode.[113] Android 4.4 also supports new experimental runtime virtual machine, ART, which is not enabled by default.[114] Android uses Bionic in place of a standard C library, originally developed by Google specifically for Android, as a derivation of the BSD's standard C library code. Bionic has several major features Android's architecture diagram specific to the Linux kernel, and its development continues independently of other Android's source code bases. The main benefits of using Bionic instead of the GNU C Library (glibc) or uClibc are its different licensing model, smaller runtime footprint, and optimization for low-frequency CPUs.[115][116] Android does not have a native X Window System by default nor does it support the full set of standard GNU libraries, and this makes it difficult to port existing Linux applications or libraries to Android.[117] Support for simple C and SDL applications is possible by injection of a small Java shim and usage of the JNI[118] like, for example, in the Jagged Alliance 2 port for Android.[119]

Open-source community
Android has an active community of developers and enthusiasts who use the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) source code to develop and distribute their own modified versions of the operating system.[120] These community-developed releases often bring new features and updates to devices faster than through the official manufacturer/carrier channels, albeit without as extensive testing or quality assurance;[19] provide continued support for older devices that no longer receive official updates; or bring Android to devices that were officially released running other operating systems, such as the HP TouchPad. Community releases often come pre-rooted and contain modifications unsuitable for non-technical users, such as the ability to overclock or over/undervolt the device's processor.[121] CyanogenMod is the most widely used community firmware,[122] and acts as a foundation for numerous others. Historically, device manufacturers and mobile carriers have typically been unsupportive of third-party firmware development. Manufacturers express concern about improper functioning of devices running unofficial software and the support costs resulting from this.[123] Moreover, modified firmwares such as CyanogenMod sometimes offer
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