[Android Software Development] jajb:
Google Apps Minimal Edition for Android 5.0.x & 5.1 are now available! Check here for details and download links.

FAQ

What is Google Apps Minimal Edition and what makes it different from other GApps packages?

Google Apps Minimal Edition for Android 4.4.x is a modified, slimmed down version of the Google Apps package. The goal is to provide the smallest GApps pack possible while de-bloating your custom ROM (bloatware removal script is listed in Add-On section). The GApps Minimal Edition only includes the absolute essentials to make everything run properly. This includes the Google Play Store, Google Play Services, Google Contact & Calendar Sync, along with the necessary libs, frameworks, and priv-apps.

What's included in GApps Minimal Edition?

GoogleBackupTransport.apk (Handles backup of settings)

GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk (Google Calendar Sync)

GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk (Google Contacts Sync)

GoogleFeedback.apk (ForceClose reporting)

GoogleLoginService.apk (Google login system)

GoogleOneTimeInitializer.apk (?)

GooglePartnerSetup.apk (In App purchases)

GoogleServicesFramework.apk (Provides account / login information to Google Apps)

Phonesky.apk (Google Play Store)

PrebuiltGmsCore.apk (Google Play Services)

SetupWizard.apk (Setup Wizard when you first use your phone)

lipAppDataSearch.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libconscrypt_gmscore_jni.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libgames_rtmp_jni.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libgcastv2_base.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libgcastv2_support.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libjgcastservice.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libgmscore.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libNearbyApp.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libogms-ocrclient.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libsslwrapper_jni.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

libWhisper.so (part of PrebuiltGmsCore.apk)

What does the bloatware removal script remove from my system?

The bloatware removal script will remove the following:

Apollo.apk (CyanogenMod's Apollo Music Player) - use Google Play Music instead

BasicDreams.apk (Customizable screensaver)

Browser.apk (AOSP Browser) - use Google Chrome instead

Calendar.apk (AOSP Calendar) - use Google Calendar instead

Camera2.apk (AOSP Camera ) use Google Camera or CyanogenMod's Camera Next instead

CellBroadcastReciever.apk (Cell Broadcast Reciever)

CMFileManager.apk (CyanogenMod File Manager) - use ES File Explorer instead

CMHome.apk (Google Now Search Panel for Trebuchet) - use a better launcher

CMWallpapers.apk (Wallpaper bloat)

Dashclock.apk (Dashclock widget for lockscreen)

DSPManager.apk (Sound Processor & Graphic Equalizer)

Email.apk (Email Sync for IMAP, POP3, Exchange accounts)

Exchange2.apk (Part of Email.apk)

Galaxy4.apk (Wallpaper bloat)

HoloSpiralWallpaper.apk (Wallpaper bloat)

LiveWallpapers.apk (Wallpaper bloat)

MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk (Wallpaper bloat)

Music.apk (AOSP Music Player) - use Google Play Music instead

NoiseField.apk (Wallpaper bloat)

PhaseBeam.apk (Wallpaper bloat)

PhotoPhase.apk (Screensaver Bloat)

Phototable.apk (Screensaver bloat)

PicoTts.apk (AOSP Text-To-Speech) - use Google TTS instead

VideoEditor.apk (MovieStudio)

VisualizationWallpapers.apk (Wallpaper bloat)

VoicePlus.apk (Google Voice and Hangouts integration)

WhisperPush.apk (Secure Messaging Integration - Read more about it here

Installation:

Step 1. Copy .zip to sdcard or internal storage

Step 2. Boot into recovery

Step 3. Flash .zip

Step 4. Wipe dalvik & cache

Step 5. Reboot system and bask in all your glory!

Download Minimal Edition:

Download GApps Minimal Edition 2015-04-12 (98 MB)

Download Add-Ons:

Download AOSP Browser Sync 2015-04-12 (12 MB)

Download AOSP Calendar Sync 2015-04-12 (12 MB)

Download Bloatware Removal Script 2015-04-12 (12 MB)

Download Facelock 2015-04-12 (12 MB)

Download Google App 2015-04-12 (127 KB)

Changelog:

2015-04-12

Updated to Google Play Store v5.4.11

Removed AOSP Calendar Sync from GApps package

Added flashable AOSP Calendar Sync .zip for Android 4.4.x (view OP, Add-On section)

Added flashable AOSP Browser Sync .zip for Android 4.4.x (view OP, Add-On section)

Added flashable Google App .zip for Android 4.4.x (view OP, Add-On section)

Modified and cleaned up .sh script and updater-script on GApps and Add-On packages

2015-04-04

Updated to Google Play Store v5.4.10

Modified GApps updater-script from removing AOSP Keyboard lib "/system/lib/libjni_latinime.so"

2015-03-29

Merged separate DPI specific .zips into one package for easy end-user flashing (GApps package will automatically detect and install the correct Google Play Services for your device. Credits to Deltadroid for the "install-optional.sh" script source.)

Updated to Google Play Services v7.0.99

Updated to Google Play Store v5.3.6

Added flashable Facelock .zip for Android 4.4.x (view OP, Add-On section)

Modified updater-script

Modified 70-gapps.sh

Removed "libjni_latinime.so" from GApps packages (Use Google Keyboard instead)

Dropped support for x86-based devices

Updated FAQ

2015-03-08

Updated to Google Play Services v7.0.87

Updated to Google Play Store v5.3.5

Modified updater-script

Modified 70-gapps.sh

Updated FAQ

Added libNearbyApp.so (part of Google Play Services update)

2015-02-22

Updated to Google Play Services v6.7.76

Updated to Google Play Store v5.2.13

Added Bloatware Removal Script as separate flashable .zip (view OP, Add-On section)

Removed Minimal X & X+ Edition (in favor of Bloatware Removal Script)

Updated FAQ

2014-12-14

Updated to Google Play Services v6.5.99

Updated to Google Play Store v5.1.11

Added libsslwrapper_jni.so to all packages (part of GPS v6.5.xx update)

Added AOSP Calendar (Calendar.apk) to Minimal X+ Edition removal list (use Google Calendar instead)

Excluded LiveWallpaperPicker.apk from X & X+ Edition removal list

Modified 70-gapps.sh

Updated FAQ

2014-11-04

Updated to Google Play Services v6.1.88

Updated to Google Play Store v5.0.37

Added AOSP Browser (Browser.apk) to Minimal X+ Edition removal list (use Google Chrome instead)

Updated FAQ

2014-10-30

Updated to Google Play Services v6.1.83

Updated to Google Play Store v5.0.32

Added Mediauploader.apk to system removal list (Picasa Uploader removed by Google in favor of Google+)

Modified updater-script

Updated FAQ

2014-10-15

Updated to Google Play Services v6.1.74

2014-10-12

Updated to Google Play Services v6.1.71

Updated to Google Play Store v5.0.31

2014-10-05

Updated to Google Play Services v6.1.11

Updated file names for easier readability

2014-09-24

Updated Google Play Services to v6.1.09

Users now have the option to download the correct version of Google Play Services for their device

Updated FAQ

2014-09-18

Updated Google Play Services to v6.1.05

Updated Google Calendar Sync to v4.4.4-1230475

Updated libs (*credits to TKruzze)

2014-09-12

Updated 70-gapps.sh for X & X+ Edition (fixes issue with previously deleted apps re-appearing after updating ROM to a newer build)

2014-09-10

Removed HTMLViewer.apk from X & X+ Edition de-bloat list (conflict with updating to a newer CM build)

Removed CMAccount.apk from X & X+ Edition de-bloat list (conflict with CM setup wizard)

Removed Camera2.apk (AOSP Camera ) & CMFileManager.apk (CyanogenMod File Manager) from X edition de-bloat list

2014-09-04

Using BaNkS GApps for future GApps builds

GApps Minimal Edition will no longer include ROM de-bloat list

Added GApps Minimal X Edition - includes ROM de-bloat list (read OP for details)

Added GApps Minimal X+ Edition - includes extra apps added to de-bloat list (read OP for details)

Removed previously unmaintained GApps packages (all minimal editions will work with any 4.4 version)

2014-09-02

Updated Google Play Services to v5.0.89

Updated Google Play Store to v4.9.13

Modified updater-script

2014-07-09

Added "PhotoPhase.apk" (Screensaver Bloat) to system app removal list

Removed Email.apk (POP/IMAP email client) and Exchange2.apk (Provides sync for Email.apk) from list of removed system apps

Modified updater-script

2014-07-02

Updated Google Play Services to v5.0.84

Modified updater-script

Modified 70-gapps.sh

Updated GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk

Updated GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk

Updated permissions and preferred-apps .xml files

Updated framework .jar files

Updated all lib files

Added "libconscrypt_gmscore_jni.so" to lib folder (Part of GmsCore.apk)

Added "libgmscore.so" to lib folder (Part of GmsCore.apk)

Removed "ConfigUpdater.apk"

Removed "install-optional.sh"

Added slimmed-down version of the 20140105 GApps package for Android 4.4.2 users

Added Phototable.apk (Screensaver bloat) to system app removal list

Added HTMLViewer.apk (HTML Viewer) to system app removal list - use ES File Explorer

Added PicoTtS.apk (AOSP Text-To-Speech) to system app removal list- use Google TTS

Added CMHome.apk (Google Now Search Panel for Trebuchet) to system app removal list - use a better launcher instead

Added Camera2.apk (AOSP Camera) to system app removal list - use Google Camera or CyanogenMod's Camera Next instead

2014-06-25

Updated Google Play Services to v5.0.77

2014-06-16

Updated Phonesky.apk (Google Play Store) to v4.8.20

Modified 7-gapps.sh

Modified updater-script

Added PicoTTS to system app removal list (Use Google TTS instead)

Added brief explanations to apk's and libs in OP

Added "libocrclient.so" (Part of GmsCore.apk)

2014-06-11

Initial Release

Credits:

Google for the apps

CyanogenMod for the original GApps package

TKruzze for the updated sources

BaNkS for the original GApps packages and all the dirty work (feel free to blow up his original thread with a ton of thanks) + all the other rad XDA members who helped BaNks out along the way

Fred6681 for helping me identify certain libs & apk's