yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[About XDA developers] sgt. meow:
I got my first Android phone, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 in December 2011. I knew about rooting long before I bought the phone and the first thing I did was search for tuts on how to root the X8. XDA came up. I read through the whole tut, and was amazed at how thoroughly put everything was. I fell in love with XDA instantly, but to keep the doses small, I hadn't registered yet.

Then I found new ROMs and obviously tried them. Then one quite eventful day, Root Explorer acted up and I had to register here to ask for help. Within 3 hours, the phone was back to normal. Still can't thank those guys enough.

I started out on Eclair, made my through Froyo, Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and even a non-functional Honeycomb SDK port all the way to Jelly Bean. I have picked up a lot on Android. I answer questions when I see them popping up, and try to keep users in their place before mods introduce themselves. I even have two or three kernel threads. They may not be really popular, but the few people who do use them have shown their appreciation. I have made some great friends, some who I'd like to keep in touch with for the remainder of my life (which is x-14, where x is the number of years I am supposed to live; I have no problem revealing my age). I have also come a long way from Junior Member to Recognized Contributor, and maybe even Recognized Developer or Forum Moderator some day soon.

Maybe if it weren't for that problem on 21st December 2011, I wouldn't have signed up. So I'd like to thank Allah Almighty (please don't mind this bit) and the dev behind Root Explorer for being somehow responsible (I am not blaming anybody here; in fact, I am thanking that guy/gal) for my signing up here. Over the last year, XDA has become a large part of my life, and I visit XDA almost everyday even if it is for a short period of time.

I don't know what the future as in store for me, but I must say that my journey till now has been just wonderful. Thank you XDA and the team behind it for this awesome experience. I hope to give you guys something in return for this. I hope other users get to experience the same joy I have been experiencing since the day I signed up till now.

Now back to the kernel I was building.......

sgt. meow
[About XDA developers] VaderSKN:
Odp: Describe your journey to XDA. Make sure to thank XDA

(I had an Xperia X1 before and I tried Android on it, but I'll start with a "real" Android device).I started on Donut (1.6) with an X10 mini pro. After two weeks I finally noticed that it was admin rights, so I tried to search how to enable this. After one hour, I finally found out what root was. I started to root the device, but I had big problems with the recovery, because I couldn't install it. After some time, I got my first HTC, Wildfire. I couldn't downgrade it, and here was my first brick. After one month I got Desire Z, and it bringed a new era of what "root" means. I flashed hundreds of ROMs on it :D. After one year, I got the One X. I rooted it at once and installed Charmeleon 5.0.0 (Later ViperX). On Christmas I got the Nexus 7 and atthe time I also got my old Desire Z back. Now I'm at this point.

The end.

Now I'm late for school :sly:
[About XDA developers] barni42:
Hi, I use this Forum since many years to get help with my problems. My first device was an old HTC Vodafone VPA with Windows 2003 on it. Meanwhile I use a HTC Desire S with ViperSAGA ROM. Android was totally new to me, but with XDA's help I managed to root, S-OFF, and flash new ROMs.

Thx a lot,

barni
[About XDA developers] MaartenXDA:
Re: Describe your journey to XDA. Make sure to thank XDA

The first time I was here, was when I was trying to root my old HTC Desire.

For me everything was like alien talk, I just didn't know what I should do. Untill I saw this forum.

Soon I became better at flashing ROMs and mods, and after a month or two I became a flash-a-holic.

Afte about 5-6 months of flashing every ROM available in the desire forums, I bought a new phone. The HTC Desire X.

After I've bought the device, I made an account here. I started making some threads about it, asking questions and writing reviews.

As soon as the first ROM was build for the device I started to get interested in building stuff.

First I learned about updater-scripts and stuff. I made some mods work. Helped with some people and experimented. After a long time I started porting a ROM. It never booted, but it made me understand how the ROMs were build up.

I spend a lot of time reading stuff and testing out some really small mods.

Then, finally I started a project called "Half~Sense", I read guides, tried to figure out stuff myself and tested it 'till it was a working and ready to be posted.

I've posted it, and I've got a lot of happy users.

I'm working on my new version now, which will be a big update.

I just want to thank all XDA members for making this one of the best forums so far.

I'll definitely stay here for a long time since I'm just twelve, and I've been here since I was ten.

So bottom line: Thanks for everything!

Sent from my awesome fridge
[About XDA developers] Deadly:
I bought my first(current) android phone.. Galaxy y duos.. and within a month my cousin told me i should root it.. I had an idea about root as i use Linux.. But, i had no idea about anything about android.. As i heard rooting voids warranty.. I was scared and stayed away from it(Now i know it was silly). After first 2 months i was already fed up of touch-wiz and thought its time to try custom rom.. There was only one custom rom when i googled it..

and thus i came upon XDA, boy am i glad that i did.. :)

So, my journey began.. read the rom thread completely(70+ pages at that time, ya it was small thread :)) and read the only kernel thread for my device at that time(40+ pages) as i wanted to make sure that this methods described in op was safe and others were successful in flashing and wanted to know what are the bugs.. finally after reading it within 2 hours or so.. flashed successfully.. i was bit confused whether to flash kernel first or rom.. so, after reading all that i understood..

But, many people had problems installing and getting stuck in bootloop.. So, i signed up because i wanted to share how to do it successfully.. I never went through the 10 post rule problem :silly: because the rom thread was in accessories section as we didnt had dedicated sub forum back then.. So, in no time i started helping people in both of those threads and started helping in whole galaxy y section..

Within a week i was senior member and i wanted to learn more and started reading guide threads.. and i wanted to try out making roms and kernels.. So, i tried decompiling apks and edify script editing and soon i made my own kanged rom (for personal use ofcourse.. made it from mixing my own edits and 2 roms i liked).. but i felt i want to make kernels.. as i wanted to have whatever features i wanted on my phone.. so, i asked my device's first kernel dev(manoranjan2050) who also became my good friend.. and i made a kernel and improved with help of lot of people of galaxy y devs.. (Thanks to kurotsugi, maro-os, savie)

And dont know when i stumbled upon ot section.. and that was totally a new experience of XDA.. and by that time i was addicted.. Checking XDA every 2 hours.. (Now addiction has gotten worse :o ...I guess many of you do it too).. Then i made many good friends in OT section.. and i enjoy talking to all of them..

And even though i'm frustrated that my device is still on GB and no CM.. I really love my phone because it brought me here.. and i got so many friends who i'm sure will be there for entire life..

And the mods are really friendly here @XDA.. Thanks to them we have such nice environment here even though sometimes things look bad..

Oops.. Sorry guys.. looks like my post became TL;DR post.. I will end my boring post.. :)

Oh, TonyStark.. :thumbup: for making this thread.. and i will spread the word.. :)
[About XDA developers] K.A.:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1958305&highlight=xda+journey

Maybe check this? If i'm not mistaken :o

Mine btw : http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=33411060&postcount=28
[About XDA developers] MikeChannon:
Got a lot on at the moment but I'll pop back later with more. For now:

A bit about me:

http://www.xda-developers.com/announcements/interview-with-xda-forum-admin-mikechannon-pt-1/

... and there are interesting things about the journey xda has had which can be seen in our new XDA-Changelog
[About XDA developers] dibblebill:
I got my first Android device in August, 2011. I did not find XDA then, though. I didn't see the need or benefit to root my Acer a500 at the time... Then, in November, I acquired an LG Optimus V. More bloatware than I could light on fire! I didn't know it then, while googling for a root method, I stumbled on articles and links here. I didn't wanna register, so I resisted. I bricked that phone in January and got an HTC Wildfire S. Trying to root it, I finally registered so I could see links, pictures, attachments, etc. in June. April of that year, the 4.0.3 update for my a500 dropped, and I began perusing the forums more thoroughly for overclocked kernels, rooting methods, etc. Used Phandroid to root my Chaser... Then came back here to root the Rise. Then, got interested in custom ROM's. I've been posting for less than a month, since I began using a CM10 ROM.

THanks for all the help, XDA!
[About XDA developers] K.A.:
Joined 4th April this year, but had been keeping check on ROM threads since last december..

I had been using my trusty old Nokia 5233 [still have it :') ] and on my visit to Dubai got my first Android smartphone, the SGA... at that time i had absolutely no idea what the heck android was, just the fact that it was amazing and it was google's.. :silly: Then i rooted, and flashed a Custom ROM on my phone and then decided to join XDA so i could spam these forums with my dumb questions... Bricked my phone twice due to wrong flashing and then stayed stock for 2 months straight..

Primarily here to ask for help and to help others, i've been more than accustomed to trolling and taken quite a liking to it.. Made some good friends back in the SGA sub forums and the OT Thread there is like a third home for me. 2000+ of my posts alone are in that thread XD

Finally contributed something worthy to the community with my mods for CM9 and CM10 and i was overjoyed when i saw that it made it to the portal :)

I've had some bad moments, ugliest being in a dev thread which i spammed and was rightly punished by the moderator, but everyone has been of great help and the best part? XDA OT. :cool:

Thanks a lot, XDA :) You're now my virtual home! :cool:
[About XDA developers] TonyStark R.I.P.:
Thanks Mike
[About XDA developers] juzz86:
Great idea for a thread Tone.

I've been around XDA since about 2007, when I came across from Palm and the Treo line and got stuck into Windows Mobile. Great times with old classics like Wallaby, Hermes, Nike and Kaiser - and then really into it with Raphael, Rhodium, Blackstone, Leo etc. Cookie's Home Tab, NRG ROMs, a proper registry - bloody good times. I still keep a couple of those devices close by.

Then Android came along. Personally I've been very lucky - at one time or another I've owned more than 70% of the devices hosted at XDA. It's enabled me to see a lot of the forum, meet and appreciate some truly awesome people, and pick up a few tips and tricks to help the newer generation at the same time.

In later times I frequented the popular Marketplace, and was welcomed onboard as a member of staff and eventually senior staff, which were both blessings. While you do see a few nasties, you also get to see the forum at its very best - and it is a breathtakingly awesome beast at times :)

I look back on my 'lurking' days and compare it to today, and the forum is a very different place - in scope, attitude and in audience. It has been, and continues to be, the top source for 'tinkering' with your phone on the Internet. There are a lot of unsung heroes who can take pride in knowing they have shaped an amazing community. Quite a few of them still reside on staff today. It is home to some wonderful people, with wonderful ideas - and I am very thankful to have been a part of it.
[About XDA developers] MikeChannon:
I see mention of folk arriving here through the Palm / Treo route. Mine was similar but via the 2004 Sony Clie which I combined with the original Motorola Razr V3 2004

Now, unknown to me at the time was the fact that there were devices around which combined the functionality of my Sony PDA and my Motorola (semi smartphone). Such devices as the Wallaby 2002 and the Blue Angel 2003

If I had known they existed I would have opted for them I think.

Move on to 2005/6 and that's where xda-devs entered my life with my purchase of the game changing HTC TyTn 8525 You simply couldn't own a TyTn and not want to know what was "under-the-hood", how to tweak it and change it, due to it's great-for-the-time software potential. But then there were also the physical build issues it suffered too.

At the time if you searched google for your phone, you mainly got carrier sites or vendor sites like Expansys, BUT there were a few others like Howard Forums, MoDaCo and, of course, xda-developers. Quite simply you joined them all and in time stuck with the one you liked best.... no more need be said about that;)

Around 2006 xda already had a head start on other sites and had most of the big developers as members. You see, I like to tweak and tinker with my device, that's the fun part; I'm not one to religiously change my phone every 6 months to a year. I don't flash every ROM in site either, though I do try a few. For me, as much as anything it's about learning how to do things for yourself - just to see if you can!!! Often, and especially now stock ROMs are pretty damn good, I'll often flash back to stock after playing around.

I was slow to move from Windows Mobile but now have a Galaxy S3, unlocked rooted etc. which is pretty good as is, but my latest self-test has been to learn to create the most basic of Android Apps, not sure I enjoyed the experience, but it's good to know the basics of how these things are done.
[About XDA developers] TonyStark R.I.P.:
Clie

http://www.zdnet.com/videos/sony-releases-new-clies/153889

TYTN :good:

[YOUTUBE]bB2fsuEMBOY [/YOUTUBE]

:eek::eek:
[About XDA developers] KidCarter93:
I'm probably better off "hiding" the majority of this post because, knowing how I like to ramble on, this post could get huge :eek:

How I found out

Even though my sign up date is March 2012, I'd found out about XDA about 8 months previously.

I first heard about this site from my good friend bbeanss who had the same phone as me (Sony Xperia X8) but his was a ton more customized. He told me about ROMs on here and also about launchers, which I felt was the much easier route.

After using just launchers for a while, I decided to check out this XDA site and see what it was about. WOW! I'm glad I did.

I spent months just reading around the X8 forum and also the About XDA forum as I wanted to learn more about this site. After about 7-8 months of lurking and reading, I decided to sign up because I knew I could learn a lot from this site and being a member would be more ideal.

My time here

It took me around a month to make my first 10 posts in the forum of my new phone, the Sony Xperia S. The 10 post rule didn't make a blind bit of difference to me though because I had no need to post in a development thread.

It was around my 20th post that I found out about Off Topic and my post count just exploded (not like it's noticeable or anything ;)).

After everything that I'd learnt from being here, I decided to give something back to the community. I don't know enough development to create anything people would like. I don't know enough about theming to share anything good. So I just shared what I'd learnt with those who had questions of their own.

It was at this point that I'd seen what a great site this is and wanted to help in any way that I could. After 6 months membership I applied to become a RC, simply to help out certain people who wouldn't accept help from 'un-titled' members and to try and make XDA and even better place to be.

Since then, I have continued to help out other people across a multitude of different forums and will continue to do so.

The future

What does the future hold? No-one knows but I know that aslong as this site is around, I will be aswell.

So, thank you XDA for everything that I've learnt and for being a second home to me for the past 10-11 months.
[About XDA developers] Thats OK:
My story

I've been lurking around XDA since late 2005.

I know I've joined here before I just can't remember my previous user name.

I would check in a few times a month to read about what was forming up.

Always scared to post and ask questions knowing absolutely nothing about programming or development.

So I was happy to just lay back and try to learn something.

Frankly little of what I read sparked anything until Android appeared.

Then the wife around September 2011 received an Acer a100 from me for her 61st birthday present.

I fiddled with it a bit and set it down not giving it a second thought.

She took it to work and everyone there who happened to be Androids started pushing her to modify.

She asked me if I knew of ways to do this, well XDA popped into my head.

Sure enough there was an Acer Iconia tab section already up.

I was worried about joining again with a new user name because I thought I'd get busted for having a previous logon.

When I bought 2 more android tablets this past July I had to signup again so that I could actually participate.

Since July 2012 it's been more than enjoyable running around here and making a friend or two.

I know if I don't want to look like too much of an idiot the PM system is my savior so to speak.

This fantastic community has always provided an answer either directly, simply browsing or by searching.

Guess it's now time to profess the ROM flashing affliction that seems to run rampant thanks to the fine members of XDA.

I am afflicted very badly and will remain so I think.

...and thank you XDA for not running me off for having another mystery logon.
[About XDA developers] Stereo8:
Thank you XDA for...

I discovered XDA back in December 2010 when I had my Galaxy Mini, may it rest in peace... I tried to install ICS on it, ending up in a brick after I succesfly rooting it and when I wanted to flash CWM, I flashed it over ROM Manager, not listening to anyone, bricking my device... I came back on XDA again in Oct 2012 after I found the Desire X somewhere on GSMArena... I didn't have it yet, but I helped people on the Desire X forums all of the time... After I got my Desire X, in December, I rooteed it, and now I'm running Elegancia ROM, smarter about tech, then I ever was...Thank you XDa...
[About XDA developers] eagleeyetom:
I started my journey 2 years ago when my good friend Jupeter bought his Xperia X10. I started to be interested in Android, as I was a total greenhorn in this OS.

A month later I bought an X8 and the whole circus started to spin :D I realized that stock firmware is crap not good so I wanted to slap some better stuff onto my shakira. I decided to flash Floyo - a legendary ROM which was a base for almost every custom ROM in X8 section :)

I was amazed by speed and the customization ability of CyanogenMod, so I started to help people as much as I only could. Later I've started to play a bit with Android building and after many attempts I was able to compile a ROM.

Few months later I had an opportunity to take over the ROM project and now it's downloaded by many people and my knowledge has improved greatly ;)

In the same time I applied to become a moderator, which I became in April 2012.

XDA is a very special place for me. I've met many friends here and really I'm honored to be a part of such beautiful community. We're special and should feel special.

Thank you, XDA!
[About XDA developers] TonyStark R.I.P.:
Thank you to all that have read and followed post #2
[About XDA developers] ak700:
A special request to all mods. Please mention how you became one, who made you and some experiences, if you are allowed to gave away that info.

Thanks!
[About XDA developers] TheCloneGamer:
My journey to xda!

My first android was(and is) sony xperia tipo

And in the first week after I bought it I had many doubts and problems using it.

For every problem when I googled it first comes the xda with the problem solved thread.

Though I did not think of becoming a member initially when I asked my friend some help on rooting the the phone,he suggested me to join in xda and I did so.

Then I was able to root my phone,unlocked bootloader, port walkman app and now trying to flash roms and I will do it in a few days.

Xda is the best.any problem can be solved on xda.
[About XDA developers] banny.dude:
I wanna thank XDA. I got an Xperia X8 back in june 2011. Although i was happy that i got an android but as soon as i discovered new things (like Gingerbread and then ICS) and then when i got to know that i can't do anything on my X8 i was totally depressed.

Then i found XDA and learnt about rooting, custom ROMS, etc. Though i bricked my phone once but XDA FTW! everything was fine again.

I want to thank gogeta for helping me out everytime

Finally thanks XDA,you've been a solution to all mobile geeks & noobs :)
[About XDA developers] redneck_666:
Re: }}} Describe your journey to XDA. Make sure to thank XDA

My experience started with a Cosby tablet back in 2010. Got it rooted & installed the Android Market. Next was the ViewSonic 7" tablet, which I did use as a phone. Not up to the ear. I used BT.

Once the HTC Inspire (cousin to the Desire HD) came to AT&T, I really dove in. I loved Cappy's port of Sense 3.x

Now, I'm on a Note, which seems to have no development anymore. Not a complaint.

Some of us have to commute 2+ hours a day, and have a family to take care of. Not all of us are whiney noobs. I do appreciate every dev on here for everything they do. Just wish I could've found out about this place sooner, so I could've contributed more than posts to Off Topic once in a while.

Most importantly, thanks to XDA & all the devs in the community for their hard work!
[About XDA developers] It_ler:
My first "contact" with xda

My first "contact" with xda-developers was after searching for latest ROMs and rooting for my father's Samsung Galaxy S.

xda was one of the top search hits, so I had a look at some threads in the corresponding device forum.

First as guest only ... then I created an account ... and bought an SGS2 myself ... switched to this device forum ... read, wrote, asked, answered, etc.

Now xda-developers is my most visited internet site, and I feel like being a part of it.

Thanks xda for giving this platform for sharing knowledge/software and collaboration about mobile devices/smartphones/tablets/etc. !
[About XDA developers] TonyStark R.I.P.:
This has been a great read so far. Please keep adding your start on XDA