Building Android Automotive OS: A Beginner-Friendly Guide
Tags: aaos, android, androiddev, aosp
Published: 2024-06-09 22:01:27


## Introduction

Android Automotive OS is a version of Android tailored for in-vehicle use. It provides a seamless experience for drivers and passengers by integrating various automotive functions with Android applications. This guide will walk you through the process of building Android Automotive OS from scratch, covering all the necessary tools, setup, and steps required.

## Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

1. **Computer with Linux or macOS**: Building Android Automotive OS is most compatible with Linux-based systems or macOS.
2. **Adequate System Resources**: At least 16GB of RAM and 400GB of free disk space.
3. **Internet Connection**: To download necessary tools and dependencies.

## Tools and Software Required

1. **Java Development Kit (JDK)**: Java 8 or higher.
2. **Repo Tool**: To manage the Android source code.
3. **Git**: Version control system.
4. **AOSP (Android Open Source Project) Source Code**: Base source code for Android.
5. **Android Studio**: Latest stable version.

## Step-by-Step Guide

### 1. Set Up Your Environment

#### Install Java Development Kit (JDK)
First, install the JDK. Open a terminal and run:

```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-8-jdk
```

#### Install Required Packages
For Ubuntu 18.04 or later, install the necessary packages:

```bash
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install git-core gnupg flex bison build-essential zip curl zlib1g-dev libc6-dev-i386 x11proto-core-dev libx11-dev lib32z1-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libxml2-utils xsltproc unzip fontconfig
```

#### Install Git
Ensure Git is installed by running:

```bash
sudo apt install git
```

#### Install Repo Tool
Download the Repo tool and make it executable:

```bash
mkdir ~/bin
curl https://storage.googleapis.com/git-repo-downloads/repo > ~/bin/repo
chmod a+x ~/bin/repo
```

Add Repo to your PATH:

```bash
export PATH=~/bin:$PATH
```

### 2. Download the Android Source Code

Create a directory for your Android build:

```bash
mkdir ~/android-automotive
cd ~/android-automotive
```

Initialize the Repo with the Android source code:

```bash
repo init -u https://android.googlesource.com/platform/manifest -b android-13.0.0_r83
```

**Note**: you can use any branch or tag which will be latest and depending on the project you are building like `android-13.0.0_r83` or `master`

Synchronize the Repo to download the source code:

```bash
repo sync
```

### 3. Configure the Build

Set up the environment for the build:

```bash
source build/envsetup.sh
```

Choose a target:

```bash
lunch
```

Select an appropriate target, such as `aosp_car_x86_64-userdebug`.

### 4. Build the Android Automotive OS

Start the build process:

```bash
make -j$(nproc)
```
This process can take several hours depending on your system's performance.

### 5. Flash the Build to a Device or Emulator

Once the build is complete, you can flash it to an Android Automotive compatible device or run it on an emulator.

the below command will directly launch the emulator
```bash
emulator
```

#### Flash to Device
Connect your device and run:

```bash
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flashall -w
```

#### Run on Emulator
To create an AVD (Android Virtual Device) for Automotive:

1. Open Android Studio.
2. Go to AVD Manager.
3. Create a new AVD with an automotive system image.
4. Start the emulator.

## Conclusion

Building Android Automotive OS from scratch involves several steps, from setting up your environment to flashing the OS onto a device or emulator. By following this guide, you can get started with developing for the automotive platform and exploring its features.

For more detailed information, refer to the official [Android Automotive OS documentation](https://source.android.com/docs/automotive).

## Resources

- [Android Open Source Project](https://source.android.com/)
- [Android Developer Documentation](https://developer.android.com/docs)
- [Android Automotive OS](https://source.android.com/docs/automotive)

Feel free to leave comments or questions below, and I'll be happy to help you through the process!