[Xperia Z5 Compact Android Development] downtimeguy:
Foremost want to send huge thanks to Bernhard for continuing to support the Z5C!

I've had my Z5C running rooted stock for a few years but was never much pleased with the intrusive presence of GSF. Learning more about google's questionable practices pushed to me seek for custom ROMs again, which I hadn't used since Cyanogen days. LineageOS looked like a promising update to the project and discovering the possibility of dumping google with MicroG was too good to pass up. I've been mightily impressed with how smoothly LOS installed and even with the MicroG fork there's been very minimal bugs to deal with. OTA updates for a custom ROM was almost too good to be true. Again, a world of credit to developers that have moved the ball forward tremendously on Android FOSS.

Sadly, I am disappointed to see that LineageOS support for Z5C ended around March of 2019. I was all set to keep my Z5C running on Nougat for several years to come until a comparable small form-factor phone comes along at some point in the future from a manufacturer that is developer-friendly with bootloader unlocking. The lack of ongoing security patching for the last Z5C version of LOS 14.1 is just another chapter of the same story of forced obsolescence for phones. I had forgotten that 2 years is still a common lifespan for many phones. It doesn't help either that Sony seems to be pulling back from the US market also.

Nevertheless, I'm committed to getting the most out of this phone for a few more years. Running an unpatched phone is somewhat disconcerting but something I have chosen to live with before. However, I would prefer to keep up-to-date with security patches as much as possible, so I am back on XDA forums to support Bernhard's work as I can.

---------- Post added at 07:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:49 PM ----------

LOS 14.1 Alternative Build w/ microG possible?

I would like to continue operating a google-free Z5C that has recent security updates, but is it correct that microG cannot be installed onto the default LOS 14.1 because signature spoofing is not enabled? I have been using the microG forked version of LOS 14.1 with good results to date. F-Droid/Yalp are proving to be sufficient stand-ins for the PlayStore. So I am wondering whether it is possible to install the microG suite onto the Berni's LOS 14.1 Alternative Build? My understanding is that microG patched the LOS ROM to allow for signature spoofing. I have seen some information regarding how signature spoofing is enabled in a custom ROM but that level of customization moves beyond my current ability.

My present level of Android expertise is that of an experienced power user. I can follow most any tutorial to install custom ROMs or apply patches that others have already developed. But my knowledge of coding is nearly zero. I have never compiled my own software beyond inputting some terminal commands to prepare a ready made package to work in a particular Linux environment. I have no idea how much knowledge and skill needed to incorporate new Android security patch coding into existing ROMs.

Request to Berni:

If possible, would you consider applying the same updates/mods you have made to the LOS 14.1 Alternative Build to the last microG LOS 14.1 ROM that was released? What sort of time and support would you need for such a project? Would you consider accepting donations for an ongoing project to keep LOS 14.1 for the Z5C updated with any new security patches that apply to 7.1.2 Nougat?