Build Your Own Evolution X GSI: A Comprehensive Guide

Interested in customizing your Android experience? This guide walks you through building your own Evolution X GSI (Generic System Image). We'll provide a streamlined, step-by-step process to help you create a personalized system image.

What is an Evolution X GSI and Why Build One?

A GSI is a system image that can be flashed on a variety of Android devices, regardless of the manufacturer.

Building your own Evolution X GSI offers several advantages:

• Customization: Tailor your Android experience to your exact preferences.
• Latest Features: Access the newest Evolution X features.
• Learning Opportunity: Gain a deeper understanding of Android system development.

Prerequisites: Tools and Knowledge

Before you start, ensure you have the following:

• Git and Repo: Familiarity with these version control tools is essential for managing the source code.
• Android Build Environment: A computer set up for building Android ROMs (refer to official Android documentation).
• GSI Building Knowledge: Basic understanding of how GSIs are built.

Step-by-Step: Building Your Evolution X GSI

1. Setting Up Your Workspace

First, create a dedicated directory for your project:

mkdir evo
cd evo

2. Initializing the Evolution X Repo

Initialize the repository with the following command:

repo init --depth=1 -u https://github.com/Evolution-X/manifest -b udc

This command sets up the environment to download the necessary source code.

3. Cloning the Manifest for Treble

Clone the manifest, adding dependencies needed for the Evolution X GSI:

git clone https://github.com/mytja/treble_manifest.git -b evo-udc .repo/local_manifests

4. Syncing the Repository

Now, synchronize the repository to download the source code:

repo sync -c --force-sync --no-clone-bundle --no-tags -j $( nproc --all)

If you encounter Webview building problems later on, use the command below:

repo forall -c ' git lfs install && git lfs pull && git lfs checkout '

5. Applying the Patches

Navigate to the ROM folder and apply the necessary patches:

cd ~ /evo

Run this command in the ROM folder:

bash treble_evo_patches/apply.sh

If a patch fails to apply, manually apply the patches. Short information on this is available in the treble_evo_patches repo.

6. Adapting for Evolution X

Generate treble configurations by running the following commands:

cd ~ /evo/device/phh/treble
bash generate.sh ~ /evo/device/mytja/evo/evo.mk

7. Enable Caching

Improve the build times of subsequent builds:

export USE_CCACHE=1
export CCACHE_COMPRESS=1
export CCACHE_MAXSIZE=50G # 50 GB

Add these lines to your ~/.bashrc OR ~/.zshrc file.

8. Build the Treble App

Build a modified Treble app for extra functionality:

cd ~ /evo/treble_app
./build.sh release

9. Compilation

Start the GSI compilation process:

source build/envsetup.sh
ccache -M 50G -F 0
lunch treble_arm64_bgN-userdebug
make systemimage -j $( nproc --all)

10. Compressing the System Image

Reduce the file size of the generated system.img via compression:

cd out/target/product/tdgsi_arm64_ab
xz -9 -T0 -v -z system.img

Warning: The compressed file needs decompressed prior to flashing.

Troubleshooting

• Patch Conflicts: Manually resolve any conflicts during patch application as described in the treble_evo_patches repository.
• Other Issues: Report problems via the Issues tab.

Understanding the Build Process for Custom ROMs

Building an Evolution X GSI involves compiling the Android source code with specific configurations tailored for your target device. This process can be resource-intensive, requiring a powerful computer and a stable internet connection. Caching mechanisms can substantially reduce overall build times for repetitive processes.

Flashing Your Custom GSI

After successfully building your Evolution X GSI, the final step is to flash it to your device. To flash the file, consult a guide that is specific to your device. Always back up your existing data before flashing a new system image.

The Bottom Line: A Rewarding Project

Building your own Evolution X GSI might seem daunting initially, but with these clear steps, you can tailor your Android experience. This detailed guide will help you through the process of building your own custom GSI from start to finish. Building custom Android ROMs will allow for exploration into the Android GSI world, enabling you to install custom ROMs on various devices.