[General Paranoid Android Discussion] colin0998:
WHAT'S NEW IN PA GAPPS 2.0

Summary of Changes and Features

PA GApps 2.0 is all-new and completely re-writen from the ground up in Shell Script. By using Shell Script instead of the limited edify binary normally found in zip-based installers, we are able to add in all sorts of new features to give you COMPLETE control over your GApps installation.

All of the new advanced installation features are COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. If you've been happy using our GApps 'as-is', in the past, then you'll likely notice nothing new going forward. However, PA GApps 2.0 provides users the ability to personalize their GApps installation. Using a simple text file placed in the same folder as your GApps zip, you can tailor your GApps install to include only the apps you want installed on your device.

Below is a detailed list of all of the changes and new features that are built into the new PA GApps installer. Post #4, above, provides a detailed list of all the configuration options that are available for configuring your GApps installation to your particular device or preference.

A simple text file called .gapps-config or gapps-config.txt handles all the customization options.

- Config file may be placed in the same folder as the GApps zip or in /sdcard/PA-GApps (zip folder will take precedence)

You can now choose the apps you WANT installed (called an Include Install) or the apps you DON'T WANT installed (default behavior) (called an Exclude Install).

New pa_gapps_log.txt is MUCH more readable and informative and contains more diagnostic information to help troubleshoot GApps. A GApps Installation Chart with detailed information is also included to help users with limited system partitions select apps to remove. Plus, there is clear information detailing any issues the installer encountered during installation.

- pa_gapps_log.txt log is automatically copied to the same folder as gapps-config, or if gapps-config is not used, the same folder as the installer zip.

Installer now includes all versions of Google Play Services and will install the PROPER version for YOUR device.

- While this increases the size of the installer by about 75MB, it eliminates the need to use a separate Play Services Updater

Google Camera and Google Keyboard can only be installed for the FIRST TIME during a 'Clean' install (data wiped)

- Updates to an existing System (GApps) installation will also install fine

- User can still freely update these apps from the Play Store and have the GApps installer update them later with the next GApps update.

- This change is made to prevent FC's and Play Store issues that often occur when these apps are installed in System partition AFTER a ROM has been set up.

- Installer will also bypass the automatic removal of the Stock/AOSP Camera, Email, or Keyboard if the above 'Clean/Update' criteria is not met.

Installs of Google Keyboard, Google Camera, Google Exchange Services, and Google Calendar all REQUIRE that the Stock/AOSP version of these apps MUST BE REMOVED to prevent problems when both are installed in system partition. If you wish to retain use of both versions, you will need to install them from the Play Store.

Added a new 'Debug' mode. By default, installer will create

pa_gapps_debug_logs.tar.gz

in the same folder as 'pa_gapps_log.txt'. This compressed file will contain a set of files that will help the devs troubleshoot any problems you might experience with the install. It's also very easy to attach this file to any post here in the support thread. You can disable the creation of Debug Logs using your gapps-config.

Added a new 'Preset' option. You can now 'transform' any gapps package to one of its 'little brothers' by adding it's name followed by 'gapps' to your gapps-config.

- ALL BEHAVIOR OF THE INSTALLER WILL NOW BE TRANSFORMED TO THE NEW PRESET, including default removals and applications available for install.

Added a new 'Simulated Install' option. By placing the Key Word 'Test' in your gapps-config, the installer will perform a simulated installation and generate the log files, but WILL NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR DEVICE.

Google Stock GApps Changes:

- Although the Stock/AOSP Browser, Calendar, Launcher, MMS, and PictoTTS are still replaced by default with their Google counterparts, they will no longer be automatically removed if you choose not to install the Google app counterpart (i.e. if you elect NOT to install Chrome, then the Stock/AOSP Browser will not be automatically removed, although you can still add it to gapps-config to force its removal).

- You also have the ability to bypass the default removal of the Stock/AOSP Browser, Launcher, MMS, or PicoTTS apps (see gapps-config instructions for complete details).

Google Calendar Sync will automatically be installed if:

- Google Calendar is NOT being installed

- 'CalSync' is NOT in gapps-config

- OR, when specified, on an 'Include Install

You can freely change among PA GApps packages without having to do a system wipe. However, this will mean that ALL Addon modules, with the exception of the Chrome Beta Addon Module, will need to be reinstalled with EVERY GApps install.

"Protection from Stupidity" is built into the GApps Installer. To prevent you from accidentally leaving yourself with no keyboard, Launcher, or MMS app when you start your device, the installer WILL NOT ALLOW you to remove the Stock/AOSP Keyboard, Launcher, or MMS app if you are not also installing the Google version of these apps. You do, however, have the ability to override this protection (see gapps-config instructions for complete details).