[XDA-University] Papichulo06:
Well for me. I had and still have several issues compiling. I downloaded ANNEX's template and had this issue:

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|Mon 02/11/2013 -- 4:29:40.27|
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'mode' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
java version "1.7.0_13"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_13-b20)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.7-b01, mixed mode)
I: Checking whether sources has changed...
I: Smaling...
I: Checking whether resources has changed...
I: Building resources...
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_arrow_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'bitmap' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_arrow_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'hotSpotX' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_arrow_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'hotSpotY' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_spot_anchor_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'bitmap' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_spot_anchor_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'hotSpotX' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_spot_anchor_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'hotSpotY' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_spot_hover_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'bitmap' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_spot_hover_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'hotSpotX' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_spot_hover_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'hotSpotY' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_spot_touch_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'bitmap' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_spot_touch_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'hotSpotX' in package 'android'
D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\frameworks_res_pointer_spot_touch_icon.xml:2: error: No resource identifier found for attribute 'hotSpotY' in package 'android'
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec command: [aapt, p, --min-sdk-version, 9, --target-sdk-version, 9, -F, C:\Users\Jorge\AppData\Local\Temp\APKTOOL6306987089940608367.tmp, -x, -I, C:\Users\Jorge\apktool\framework\1.apk, -S, D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res, -M, D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\AndroidManifest.xml]
at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResourcesFull(Androlib.java:358)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResources(Androlib.java:283)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:206)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:176)
at brut.apktool.Main.cmdBuild(Main.java:228)
at brut.apktool.Main.main(Main.java:79)
Caused by: brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec command: [aapt, p, --min-sdk-version, 9, --target-sdk-version, 9, -F, C:\Users\Jorge\AppData\Local\Temp\APKTOOL6306987089940608367.tmp, -x, -I, C:\Users\Jorge\apktool\framework\1.apk, -S, D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res, -M, D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\AndroidManifest.xml]
at brut.androlib.res.AndrolibResources.aaptPackage(AndrolibResources.java:357)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResourcesFull(Androlib.java:336)
... 5 more
Caused by: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec command: [aapt, p, --min-sdk-version, 9, --target-sdk-version, 9, -F, C:\Users\Jorge\AppData\Local\Temp\APKTOOL6306987089940608367.tmp, -x, -I, C:\Users\Jorge\apktool\framework\1.apk, -S, D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\res, -M, D:\Dropbox\Public\Android\Themes\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\other\..\projects\Color_Me_Droid.apk\AndroidManifest.xml]
at brut.util.OS.exec(OS.java:89)
at brut.androlib.res.AndrolibResources.aaptPackage(AndrolibResources.java:355)
... 6 more
^CThe system cannot open the device or file specified.

I did some googling and realized a few things that the book could of been more clear on like extracting different apk's and combining the res folder of that apk into your res folder of your template. Incorporating a FAQ section would be nice and possibly even a troubleshooting section for issues like the one I got and still have. The book could also mention what program to use to edit smali. Possibly how to install it once it's compiled like, do we flash or do we install just the .apk? And once installed how do we apply it? Through Theme Chooser? Just small things like those could clear up a lot of things.

Over all, it's a really good starter book and I definitely liked the presentation!