[Galaxy Tab S2 Android Development] retiredtab:
Frequently Asked Questions. You MUST READ this before posting any questions. If you think this is unreasonable, then find another rom. Thank you.

Q1. Where are the source and kernel source files?

A1. The kernel source files are at

https://github.com/syphyr/android_kernel_samsung_msm8976/tree/lineage-16.0

The device tree files are at

https://github.com/retiredtab/msm8976-common/tree/lineage-21

https://github.com/retiredtab/android_device_samsung_gts28vewifi/tree/lineage-20

The vendor tree files are at

https://github.com/retiredtab/proprietary_vendor_samsung_msm8976

The manifest.xml (or roomservice.xml) and build instructions for LineageOS 21 are at

https://github.com/retiredtab/LineageOS-build-manifests/tree/main/21/msm8976

Q2. Is this ALPHA rom suitable as a daily driver?

A2. It can be depending on your requirements. I can't test every app so you try it yourself to see if it's suitable. I've been using this rom myself since Jan 2024 with no major issues. I suggest you do a clean install, see FAQ 11, and flash this ROM BY ITSELF (no gapps, magisk, etc) and see if you like it.

Q3. What if my app, xyz, doesn't work?

A3. If your app doesn't work, then go back to your old rom.

Q4. Your rom is laggy and buggy.

A4. If you find the above, then go back to your old rom. Your tablet will also run slower when you use gapps. You can run a lot of software without using gapps. Research fdroid, newpipe, Aurora store etc.

Q5. What TWRP should I use?

A5. You MUST use TWRP 3.6.2_9-0. Do not use any other version including the "latest".

https://dl.twrp.me/gts28vewifi/

I will not answer questions if you don't use this exact TWRP version.

Q6. Why should I use this rom?

A6. If you don't like this rom, then don't use it.

Q7. Will you offer monthly updates with security patches?

A7. I will try to offer monthly security patches, but that all depends on if I continue to have high speed Internet in the future.

Q8. Can you help me? I'm a newbie. Can you provide step by step instructions?

A8. I don't have the time to help newbies, so please do your own research. There are lots of tutorials, videos, etc on how to flash roms. Newbie questions must be posted in the Questions and Answers forum, not here. In addition, I don't run Windows OS at all.

Q9. Can I report a bug with respect to the rom?

A9. Yes, but you need to supply the following information. If you don't, I won't look at it.

You must provide an adb logcat of the problem and tell me how to reproduce it. Note I will not be downloading any apps that require money or an userid/password. For example, if you have problems with Netflix, I cannot help you since I don't have a paid subscription. If you use some app that requires an userid/password, I cannot help you as I'm not willing to create another userid/password even if it's free.

To get a logcat, open up a terminal window.

# clear the logcat first
adb logcat -c
# start logcat trace
adb logcat > problem.txt
# reproduce problem
# wait until problem has occured, then stop trace by hitting ctrl-c
# attach the problem.txt ZIPPED as text files don't seem to get attached properly

IMPORTANT: DO NOT use any "apps" to get the logcat as they are usually never in the correct format. I use a text editor with color coding so I can easily see errors the logcat and the above procedure using adb logcat provides the file in the correct format. If you insist on using an logcat app from the playstore, I won't even look at it.

Q10. Will you build Android 15 and higher for this device?

A10. Any questions on higher Android versions will be completely ignored. I do this in my free/spare time and will not be subject to any ETAs or demands. If you want a higher version, the source code is freely available as per FAQ #1 and you can build it yourself.

Q11. Do I need to erase everything and format my data?

A11. Yes, you MUST erase all the partitions (system, data, dalvik/art cache, cache) using TWRP and MUST format your data before installing 21 when you are coming from stock or an earlier version of LineageOS or from another custom rom. If you get stuck at the boot animation for more than 5 minutes, it's likely because you didn't follow the instructions I just wrote. Dirty flashes from stock, other custom roms or older LineageOS versions are not supported and not likely to work.

You MUST FORMAT DATA in TWRP so backup your files first to some external storage (external microsd or PC).

NOTE: After you do the above, first boot (without gapps, magisk, etc) will take about 100 seconds. It may pop with a message saying "System UI isn't responding". Hit close app and then reboot the tablet again.

Q12. What gapps should I use?

A12. I don't use gapps anymore. I use Aurora Store. As of Nov 6, 2021, I no longer make recommendations on which gapps to use as your mileage may vary.

Let me by crystal clear. YOU NEED TO DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK selecting between the various ARM64 gapps offered. There are 5: litegapps, nikgapps, mindthegapps, flamegapps and bitgapps. Each one will have it's own installation instructions. The only recommendation I will offer to use the SMALLEST version of gapps.

Don't be surprised that whatever gapps you use might have problems like "Just a sec", voice not working, updating google play store please wait, etc. These are NOT problems of the OS as the OS will run fine without gapps. These are gapps problems and you must ask in the gapps forum why it doesn't work.

In addition, some of the gapps may not install properly when using TWRP and say "cannot /mnt/system".

As a courtesy, I started a gapps ONLY thread at

https://xdaforums.com/t/what-gapps-...os-21-on-samsung-sm-t713-and-sm-t813.4682142/

Q13. I'm having problems with gapps, can you answer why it's not working?

A13. I WILL NOT answer any questions regarding gapps. This thread is about the rom, not gapps. Android does not depend on gapps in order to work.

Q14. Why isn't my post answered or ignored? NOTE: I DO NOT answer any PM/DMs.

A14. Questions in the following categories will be completely ignored

- already answered in the FAQ

- low effort posts (example: "wifi doesn't work" with no details or adb logcats in the proper format)

- poorly written posts without punctuation, paragraphs and periods

- posts that obviously show no homework/research being done

- any Windows, Odin, gapps, magisk, root, safetynet/Play Integrity, "device not certified"

- requests for step by step guides

Q15. What speed up/optimization tips do you suggest?

A15.

1. Turn off animations. Go into developer settings, scroll down to the drawing section, and set window, transition and animator scale all to "off".

2. If you don't have a google account, don't install gapps. Use Aurora Store to get your apps as you can get all the same apps from the play store using an anonymous login.

3. Use a web browser like DuckDuckGo that has built in adblock and privacy features.

4. Use newpipe to watch your streaming content. It has built in adblock so you don't have to watch forced ads.

5. Look for apps that are open source, ad free and lightweight.

Q16. Does this rom support Magisk for root?

A16. I don't use Magisk. Magisk is always being updated to fool Google's certification process which may or may not work.

Q17. Will this rom ever become official?

A17. With 19.1 and up, legacy devices like ours will NEVER be official due to lack of ebpf support. See https://lineageos.org/Changelog-26/

Q18. What is the difference between this rom and others?

A18. This rom tries to be pure LineageOS with little to no modifications.

Q19. Will there be any major 21 code modifications in the future?

A19. I don't anticipate any major modifications. There may be some small bug fixes and minor code cleanup, but all the hard work in getting the rom up and running and fixing all the major bugs have been completed. This doesn't mean the code is perfect or well organized, but I won't be doing any major changes now that 21 is working.

Q20. Can you build a variant of this device? For example, a LTE or S-pen version.

A20. If I don't physically have the device, I cannot and will not build it unless I can boot and test it myself. Even then, there's no guarantee that I can get those variant features working. To be clear, I will NOT build T719 and T819.

Q21. Can I load this rom on a variant devivce like LTE or S-pen version?

A21. The rom is built for the device explicitly listed. If you are an advanced user and understand TWRP, adb, odin, heimdall, you can try loading it on a LTE or S-pen variant by modifying the updater-script, but it may cause a bricked device, bootloops or non functionality of LTE/S-pen. You have been informed and warned!

Q22. Does this rom support OTA updates?

A22. No and I have no plans to add that functionality.

Q23. Okay, I understand the consequences and that this is ALPHA rom and willing to take the risks outlined, now where can I find the rom?

A23. You can download it from

https://sourceforge.net/projects/retiredtab/files/SM-T713/21/