Build Your Own Evolution X GSI: A Step-by-Step Guide

Want to experience the power of Evolution X on your device? This guide walks you through the process of building your own custom Evolution X GSI (Generic System Image). By following these steps, you can tailor the ROM to your specific needs and enjoy the latest features.

What is a GSI and Why Build One?

A GSI is a system image that can be flashed on any device that supports Project Treble. Building your own Evolution X GSI allows you to:

• Customize your ROM: Add or remove features to suit your preferences.
• Stay up-to-date: Get the latest Evolution X updates even if your device isn't officially supported.
• Learn about Android development: Gain hands-on experience with building and customizing Android ROMs.

Prerequisites: Tools and Knowledge

Before you start, make sure you have the following:

• Basic understanding of Git and Repo.
• Familiarity with flashing custom ROMs.
• A Linux environment for building.

Step 1: Prepare Your Build Environment

First, you need to set up your build environment by creating a dedicated directory:

mkdir evo
cd evo

Step 2: Initialize the Treble Evolution X Repository

This step retrieves the necessary source code from the Evolution X project:

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

Step 3: Clone the Manifest for Dependencies

This adds specific requirements for the Evolution X GSI:

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

Step 4: Sync the Repository

This downloads all the necessary source code and dependencies. This step may take some time, depending on your internet speed:

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

If you encounter webview building issues later, run:

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

Step 5: Apply Patches

Apply TrebleDroid and custom patches to the source code by navigating to your ROM folder ( ~/evo) and running:

Follow on-screen instructions to resolve issues. Refer to the treble_evo_patches repository for guidance if apply operations fail.

Step 6: Adapt for Evolution X

Configure the GSI specifically for Evolution X by running these commands. This is a crucial step in building a fully functional Evolution X GSI.

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

Step 7: Speed up Build with Caching

Enable caching to significantly reduce compilation times in subsequent builds. Add these lines to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc file:

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

Step 8: Build the Treble App

Since this GSI implements a modified Treble app for enhanced capabilities, you need to build it.

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

Step 9: Commence Compilation

Navigate back to the ROM folder (~/evo) and start the compilation process.

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

Step 10: Compress the System Image

After the compilation completes, compress the system.img file to reduce its size, saving storage space.

Warning: Remember to decompress the output before flashing.

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

Troubleshooting

• Patch Conflicts: Manually apply patches to resolve any conflicts.
• Other Issues: Report any other problems via the Issues tab of the repository.

Credits

This project draws inspiration from Ahnet's Evolution X GSI repository, and numerous individuals have contributed to its success:

• Evolution X Team
• Phhusson
• AndyYan
• Ponces
• Peter Cai
• Iceows
• ChonDoit
• Nazim
• UniversalX
• TQMatvey
• Ahnet
• Christopher A. Williamson
• kaii

By following these steps, you can successfully build your own custom Evolution X GSI. This empowers you to enjoy a personalized Android experience tailored to your device.