[Thunderbolt General] :
I'm creating this A - Z dictionary because I myself struggled a lot with the Android/Thunderbolt jargon when I first entered the Root scene. I would assume that other newly rooted Thunderbolt users will struggle and are struggling with the same thing, and I think a tool like this might help them. Keep in mind that most of these terms are either Android-specific or Thunderbolt-specific (if there is enough variance between the general Android and specific Thunderbolt meaning). So, without further ado...

The Thunderbolt Root User's Dictionary v1.0.2!​

VVV A - M VVV

A

A2SD:

1. (abvr., n.) Apps 2 SD [card]. A root-only application used to move applications from your Thunderbolt's internal memory to a separate partition of your SD card. The partition uses an ext filesystem (either ext2, ext3, or ext4), which is the same filesystem that Andorid's internal memory uses. A2SD made its debut in CyanogenMod before the days of Froyo, in which Google added their own method of moving applications to the SD card without partitioning it.

1u. A2SD has a paid version and a free version, both of which are available in the Android market.

ADB:

1. (abvr., n.) Android Debug Bridge. A tool included with the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) which is located in the platform-tools folder of the un-packed ASDK. It interacts with your device by way of specific commands issued by the user from a separate device.

1u. Unless you use a one-click root method, you will have to use ADB in order to root your Thunderbolt.

AOSP:

1. (abvr., n.) The Android Open Source Project. A Google-led project whose goal is to further the development and to maintain the Open-Source Android operating system. AOSP hopes to accomplish it's goal by making the Android source code available to all interested parties, from device manufacturers to private developers.

1u. Cyanogenmod is an AOSP-based ROM.

B

Baseband:

1. (n.) Essentially, a driver for your Thunderbolt's radio. In theory, upgrading your baseband will give you a better radio signal, however in reality, an upgrade could potentially worsen your signal. Usually the baseband version is the same as the CDMA version for any given radio.

1u. Some basebands will only work with certain ROMs.

Bloatware:

1. (n.) Applications which are installed prior to the Thunderbolt's purchase but which serve little or no purpose, are obsolete and/or of poor quality, or are just plain dumb.

1u. Slacker radio, and application pre-loaded on the Thunderbolt, is usually regarded as bloatware.

Bootloader:

1. (n.) A set of code containing instructions for the operating system which is executed at every boot/reboot. Your bootloader has a simple user interface (hboot, see separate entry) which allows for debugging modification prior to boot. 2. (n.) [Unlocked] Bootloader: A bootloader which has been hacked to allow for limitless third party customization. With an unlocked botloader, users can load custom firmware, kernels, themes, and more. From an unlocked bootloader, you can boot normally, into recovery mode, or power down, amongst other options. Unlocking your bootloader voids your manufacturer's warranty.

1u. When you power on your device, bootloader will run before any other applications.

2u. I got my unlocked bootloader today and loaded up Cyanogenmod!

Brick:

1. (n.) A Thunderbolt which makes for a better paperweight than a mobile device; A Thunderbolt which is missing key functionality or which no longer functions and which cannot be recovered by rebooting normally, in recovery, or by means of RUU. 2. (v.) Brick[ed]: To have damaged your Thunderbolt, either physically or on a software level, so that it is beyond repair, at which point it becomes a Brick (see Brick, 1. (n.)).

1u. Adrenelyne: *Eyes closed* Is it a brick guys?

2u. Arednelyne: I BRICKED THE DAMN THING! ;)

Busybox:

1. (n.) A small software application which provides many standard UNIX tools, although these tools are not as capable as their larger GNU Core Utility counterparts. Unless you intend to develop Android, all you really need to know about Busybox is that it is needed in order to root your Thunderbolt.

1u. Just as the self-proclaimed name, the "Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux", implies, Busybox is a set of many UNIX tools packaged into a small file.

C

CDMA:

1. (abvr., n.) Actually lengthened to CDMA2000, but often shortened simply to CDMA. CDMA, in terms of the Thunderbolt, is a wireless air interface used to transmit voice, data, and signaling data between the Thunderbolt and Verizon cell sites. It is responsible for your 1X/3G data connection as well as for your voice call connection. Your call connection signal strength is represented by the signal bars in the notification bar at the top of your screen, while your 1X/3G connection is represented by their corresponding icons located to the left of the signal bars (no 1X/3G/4G icon means you have no data connection).

1u. CDMA technology was first used in cordless home telephones.

ClockworkMod:

1. (n.) A popular custom replacement for the stock Android recovery console. With ClockworkMod, users can access advanced commands that stock recovery does not offer. Otherwise inaccessible commands can be executed, such as storage mounting options, .zip flashing, and nandroid backup restoration. ClockworkMod is a tool used often by developers and is something that you will see a lot of as a rooted Thunderbolt user.

1u. I booted into ClockworkMod mode so that I could flash Imoseyon's newest kernel, v15.4926.0010010.666test47

CyanogenMod:

1. (n.) Custom firmware based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). CyanogenMod (often shortened to CM, or CM7 for version 7.x) offers features not found in the stock Thunderbolt firmware, and it runs Gingerbread, not Froyo. CM7 is currently in the Alpha stage of development for Thunderbolt users.

1u. Users who use CyanogenMod are able to browse the web in incognito mode.

D

Dalvik:

1. (n.) A virtual machine designed by Google for use in the Android operating system. Sometimes shortened to DVM or DalvikVM. 2. (n.) Dalvik [Cache]: A cache of small .dex files which are used to quickly and efficiently load applications. Basically, when Android starts up, the DalvikVM scans through all of your applications (files with .apk extensions) and application framework. It then optimizes the bytecode (tiny code commonly used for efficient software execution) for each application into a .dex file and stores that file in the Dalvik Cache. The applications are then run using the .dex file (optimized bytecode). By doing this, Android is able to speed up to execution of applications by loading them from smaller .dex files instead of larger .apk files. This is why when you install a new ROM, it takes longer to boot for the first time (because the DalvikVM is scanning and optimizing each application/framework). Every time an application (or framework library) changes or is installed, it’s re-optimized into a .dex file and the cache is updated.

1u. Dalvik is named after a fishing village in Iceland.

2u. Many custom ROMs give you the ability to clear your Dalvik cache at any time.

Debloat:

1. (v.) To remove the bloatware from your Thunderbolt. 2. (adj.) Debloat[ed]: A ROM which comes with some or all bloatware removed.

1u. If you want to debloat your ROM, just flash the debloat patch!

2u. Many ROMs come debloated and deodxed.

Deodex:

1. (n.) A patch of sorts that involved the un-odexing of a ROM. An odex, simply put, is a collection of bits of different applications that have been pulled from their original sources prior to boot with the intent to speed up the boot process. Therefore, a deodex is the patch applied to a ROM which all the bits from all the different applications have been returned to their respective sources. *Note: Most ROMs come either odexed or deodexed.

1u. BAMF ROMs are all deodexed prior to their release (plus they're awesome ;))

E

eMMC:

1. (abvr., n.) Embedded MultiMediaCard. eMMC is simply a storage solution with MMC interface, flash memory, and controller. The average Thunderbolt user only needs to know that the Thunderbolt uses 4GB of eMMC as it's internal storage, although Android and other system partitions (one for hboot/bootloader, one for recovery, and one for Android itself) take up roughly 1.4GB of that, leaving only 2.6GB that can be used for application and data storage. So in terms of the Thunderbolt, eMMC is just a technical term for internal storage.

1u. eMMC has a high capacity, reliable write, boot, and sleep modes, a dual data date, support for multiple partitions, and security enhancements over MMC.

ETA:

1. (abvr., n.) Estimated Time of Arrival. In the world of Android development, ROMs, kernels, RILs, etc. are created at whatever pace their developers decide to create them at. It is considered disrespectful to demand an ETA for any custom software or code because, quite frankly, we're lucky to have dedicated developers who are kind and talented enough to produce such things at no cost. One should not, under any circumstance, ask for ETAs. Period. /Thread.

1u. Sooooooo.... whats the ETA on that CM7 RIL? ;)

F

Firmware:

1. (n.) In its most basic form, software that has been written onto read-only memory (ROM). However, firmware in the context of Android and Thunderbolt could be defined as the software that drives the device. It is both programs and code whose purpose is to control the hardware of the Thunderbolt, and is therefore essential to your Thunderbolt's operation.

1u. Verizon is pushing out a firmware update on the 30th... NOT!

Flash:

1. (v.) To install custom software, which is packaged into a .zip, onto your Thunderbolt through recovery mode. When you flash a custom ROM, or when someone refers to flashing a patch, the thing being flashed is the thing being installed. Therefore, if the term flash throws you off, just pretend it says "install" instead.

1u(a). I am going to flash the latest version of BAMF later today.

1u(b). Once the patch has been flashed, your data connection should be restored.

Freeze:

1. (v.) Freezeing is a function within the application Titanium Backup which allows the rooted user to "freeze", or temporarially disable, any application (including system applications). Freezing is useful in disabling bloatware that cannot be uninstalled.

1u(a). I am going to freeze My Verizon; that app is annoying!

Froyo:

1. (n.) Version 2.2 of the Android operating system. Thunderbolts currently come with this version of Android.

1u. My Thunderbolt is running Android version 2.2.1, which is categorized as Froyo.

G

Gingerbread:

1. (n.) Version 2.3 of the Android operating system. Often abbreviated to GB.

1u. I wish my Thunderbolt could have some yummy Gingrebread...

GPU:

1. (abvr., n.) Graphics Processing Unit. Your Thunderbolt's GPU is akin to your computer's video card. It is a chip, much like a CPU, which is responsible for manipulating and altering memory/data related to graphical output. A GPU does this more efficiently than a CPU because of the way that such memory/data is arranged (in parallel as opposed to in series).

1u. Imoseyon's kernels offer several GPU enhancements that are baked straight into his kernel code.

H

HBoot:

1. (abvr., n.) HotBoot. Located on a partition of your Thunderbolt's eMMC, HBoot allows you to boot into other eMMC partitions such as bootloader, recovery, and your regular ROM. HBoot is the first thing that runs when you power on your Thunderbolt. By default, HBoot simply loads bootloader when your device is powered on. However, you can boot into HBoot in order to access its various features by using ADB or by holding your volume down and power buttons simultaneously.

1u. Hboot is easily the hardest term to research :P

HDPI:

1> (abvr., n.) High Dots Per Inch (DPI). DPI is a measure of screen pixel density, so a higher DPI always means a higher resolution screen, meaning a higher definition image. The Thunderbolt, being an HDPI device, has a better screen than the Eris, which is an MDPI device, or Medium DPI.

1u. Some Google App (GAPPS) packages are made for HDPI devices and others for MDPI/LDPI devices.

I

I/O Scheduler:

1. (abvr., n.) Input/Output Scheduler. The I/O scheduler is code that is tasked with deciding the order in which I/O operations are submitted to the eMMC and SD card. Common goals of many I/O scheduler are to minimize time wasted by hard disk seeks, to prioritize a certain processes' I/O requests, to give a share of the disk bandwidth to each running process, and to guarantee that certain requests will be issued in a particular time frame. Everyone has their own opinion about which I/O scheduler is the best for Thunderbolt, and each kernel varies with which I/O schedulers it supports.

1u. The default I/O scheduler for CyanogenMod is BFQ.

J

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K

Kernel:

1. (n.) The bridge between applications and the actual data processing done on the hardware level. Basically, the kernel talks to hardware components like the RAM and CPU inside the Thunderbolt and assigns the proper amount of each of the component's resources to be used for an application's tasks. In Android, the kernel is also used to control the CPU clock speed and voltage, as well as other hardware-related functions.

1u. You can upgrade your kernel just like you can upgrade your ROM, but only if you're rooted!

L

LTE:

1. (abvr., n.) Actually lengthened to 3GPP Long Term Evolution, but often shortened to just LTE. In your Thunderbolt, LTE is responsible for your 4G wireless data transfer. Although LTE does not officially qualify as a 4G network, it is often marketed as such.

1u. The Thunderbolt runs on Verizon's 4GLTE network, although LTE coverage is currently only in large cities.

M

MD5:

1. (n.) A 128-bit hash that functions as a compact digital fingerprint for a file. Since almost every MD5 hash is unique (although mathematically its not impossible for multiple files to have the same MD5 hash), they are often used to verify the validity of downloads for your Thunderbolt, such as ROMs and kernels. 2. (n.) MD5Sum: [AKA checksum] A program used to calculate the MD5 hash of a given file. You'll use an MD5Summer in order to make sure your downloaded ROM/kernel/mod is 100% good.

1u. Always check the MD5 hash before you flash a ROM or kernel!

2u. An MD5Summer can be found here.

VVV SEE POST #2 FOR N - Z VVV