Android - Glossary | Frequently used terms



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Android - Glossary

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This topic lists only the most commonly used Android terms. For a more complete list of terms and jargon refer to the topic.Terms and jargon, and also use the English-Russian dictionary.

    A
  • Adb (Android Debug Bridge - Android Debug Bridge) - a tool that is installed with the Android-SDK and allows you to control an Android OS device. You can find it in the platform-tools folder unpacked by the SDK. ADB is the management of an android device using commands from a computer. To work with adb, any android device is equipped with software, and drivers and software are written for the computer.
  • Android SDK - a universal shell for modeling and developing various software products for the Android operating system.
  • AOSP (English, abbr. Android open source project) - a project of the Android operating system with open source. Most often AOSP is called firmware collected from the AOSP project. AOSP is essentially a firmware for google devices. It is considered a "clean" firmware.
  • APK - The installation file of the application for the Android operating system, is analogous to MSI in WIndows and DEB in Linux. It is an extension of the installation file. When an APK application is installed, the file is copied to the / data / app folder on the device storage device, and is used when the application is launched.
  • ART - The application environment on the operating system (OS) Android, which replaced Dalvik. Unlike Dalvik, it compiles the code only once - when installing the application. As a result, the application takes a slightly larger space, is installed longer, but should start and work faster. The ability to use ART in test mode appeared in the Android 4.4.0 version. Android switched to ART, starting with the Android 5.0 version. The transition to ART is possible not with speed but with litigation between Oracle and Google.
    B
  • Bootloader - operating system loader, often used in a distorted sense: device mode, used to replace the firmware or its parts. To enter the bootloader means to open the menu of the operating system loader.
    C
  • ClockworkMod Recovery (CWM) is a modified unofficial recovery, which is available for most devices running Android. It has much wider possibilities than native recovery. On some devices, it is installed instead of the native recovery, on other devices it is installed in parallel. Allows you to install unofficial firmware, it is easy to install corrections and patches in the form of ZIP files, create a backup copy of the firmware and user data, make a reset to factory/factory reset, cleaning cache, dalvik-cache (dalvik-cache ), statistics of the battery, formatting and creating sections on the memory map and much more.
    D
  • Dalvik - Java virtual machine, which is used to run programs (only with the APK extension) in order to make access faster, the default compiler. Dalvik uses its own bytecode. When developing an Android application, they are translated by the compiler into a special machine-independent low-level code. When executed on a platform, Dalvik interprets and executes such a program.
  • Dalvik cache (Dalvik cache) - intermediate buffer with quick access, containing information that can be requested with the greatest probability, in this case created by the Dalvik virtual machine. In other words, Dalvik-cache is the result of optimization by the Dalvik virtual machine, the most frequently launched programs.
  • Deodex - In the Android device in the /System /App folder in the official firmware there are APK and ODEX files. DEODEX means that all ODEX files are included in APK and there are no them in the /system /App folder. DEODEX system is convenient for editing, but is considered less stable and slow compared to the ODEX system. In practice, the speed does not change. ODEX files are packaged dex code modules. ODEX are used by the Dalvik virtual machine to accelerate the launch of the application. ODEX: To speed up the Dalvik VM download, the executable code (class.dex) can be made from the programs (.APK files) to separate files with the expansion .ODEX. As a rule, factory (official) firmware is installed in this form. The disadvantage of such a solution is the inability to change the interface and applications. DEODEX: Converting the executable code from .odex files back inside the program files (.APK). To install DEODEX'ED firmware, as a rule, you need a ROOT and non -native recovery.
    F
  • Fastboot - Android device loader mode, in which the device receives commands from the computer. Used mainly for flashing, cleaning partitions and unlocking the device loader.
    G
  • Google applications(GAPPS, Google apps) - The common name of all programs from Google, which are included in the firmware. Programs from Google include: Gmail, Youtube, Hangouts, Google Play, Calendar and more. In some even official firmware, there may be no programs from Google at all. In unofficial firmware, the set of programs from Google may vary. To install programs from Google, installation zip files for unofficial recovery are released.
  • Google play (the old name is market) is the official Android app store from Google. Access to the store from the phone is carried out via the Play Store application of the same name - a catalog of applications divided by subject. Through the Play Store you can see the description of applications and reviews on them, buy, install or update applications. To purchase applications, you must attach a bank card to Google Wallet.
    J
  • JIT -Just-In-Time Compilation (JIT, compilation “On the fly”), Dynamic Translation (dynamic compilation)-the technology for increasing the productivity of software systems using byte code by compilation of byte code into the machine code directly during the program. Thus, a high speed of execution (comparable to compiled languages) is achieved due to an increase in memory consumption (for storing compilation results) and the cost of compilation time. It is built into the operating system starting with version 2.2 from Froyo
    K
  • Kernel (English) - This core operating system . The kernel is part of any firmware (that is, it is contained absolutely in any firmware). The kernel is not a feature of android devices, it exists as the basis of any OS, in fact, the kernel is the OS, it is responsible for working with the hardware. As a rule, the kernel can be replaced by unofficial methods with another without replacing the remaining parts of the firmware. Most often, you can replace the kernel using a non-native recovery.
    L
  • LineageOS (CyanogenMod) - The project, which creates unofficial firmware for some Android devices. Firmware are created based on open source Android. The latest version of Android is always supported. A distinctive feature of LineageOS firmware is performance and a small number of embedded applications in relation to the official firmware. LineageOS also gives a number of features, improvements, settings, add-ons, which are currently not in the official firmware of Android devices.
    M
  • MIUI - firmware with a characteristic interface based on the Android operating system. Initially developed by Xiaomi Tech as official firmware for their devices. At the moment, unofficial Miui firmware for other devices are also produced. The firmware is created on the basis of the latest version of Android, the source code of the project is open. A distinctive feature of Miui firmware is a strongly changed graphic interface resembling iOS, while the advantages of the Android operating system are preserved. There is no application menu in the MIUI interface. MIUI includes additional functions that are originally absent in the standard Android: a change in the graphic design, a voice recorder, a room -nominee with support for the search for T9 in contacts and other improvements and additions. The decryption of MIUI is divided into two parts: Mi is a reduction from Xiaomi, and UI - user interface (user interface).
    O
  • Ota (English over the Air) - partial or complete update of the firmware via the Internet (by "air"). Less commonly used is the full abbreviation Fota (English Firmware Over The Air). When updating by air, user data (settings, files, applications, etc.) are not erased, unlike the firmware through the computer. The update occurs as follows: the device automatically when you turn on the Internet or when checking updates manually (most often is in the settings in the section on the phone/ update) checks whether there are updates on the server, if there are updates, the device offers them to download and install them. The device downloads an update in the form of a ZIP file for the native recovery. After downloading the update file, the device is rebooted into the mode of the native recovery and sets the update, after which the device is loaded again. ZIP file after updating is deleted. The update before installation is downloaded in /DATA /CACHE, but the installation in the presence of a root can be copyed.
    R
  • Recovery (recovery) - The bootloader mode in Android devices. The list of capabilities and methods of loading in the recovery mode specify in the topic of firming your device. The native Recovery is used in most cases to make Wipe Data/ Factory Reset (reset to factory settings). Also, the native Recovery has a function to install ZIP files, but it allows you to install only archives signed by the manufacturer. Basically, in the form of a ZIP installers for the native recovery, all updates are installed in the air. For many devices, there are third -party Recovery with advanced functions such as: ClockworkMod, Twrp, Safestrap, Openrecovery and others. On some modern devices, such as Sony, Recovery is absent.
  • Root - the rights of the super -user (are an analogue of the administrator’s account in Windows). They allow you to get full access to the operating system: changing system files, launching some third -party applications, and backing up the system. Getting Root means to get the rights of a super sex, more precisely, add the possibility of issuing the rights of a superpoler to the application to the firmware. In most devices, Root rights are obtained along with the rights to the System section. Superuser (SuperPolizer), Supersu, Kingroot - this is a program that gives other applications of the right of the superpower, there are others. Most often, the installation of the Superuser application occurs along with obtaining the rights of the super -user. Often confused the term Superuser and Root, Root is the rights of a super -user, and Superuser is an application.
    S
  • Swap - Virtual memory. The partition on the physical drive that the OS uses to expand the RAM. Created for devices with a small amount of RAM. It is installed and included additionally.
    T
  • TWRP - Teamwin Recovery Project is a modified unofficial recovery, which is available for most devices running Android. It has much wider possibilities than native recovery. On some devices, it is installed instead of the native recovery, on other devices it is installed in parallel. Allows you to install unofficial firmware, it is easy to install corrections and patches in the form of ZIP files, create a backup copy of the firmware and user data, make a reset to factory/factory reset, cleaning cache, dalvik-cache (dalvik-cache ), much more.
    W
  • Wipe - This is a complete reset of settings and data (analogue Hard reset in Windows Mobile). Most often, when they talk about wipe, they mean resetting data to factory settings (ie, wipe data / factory reset - reset to factory settings). This clears sections. / data and / cache The system folder is cleared in the internal storage device .android_secure on the memory card, i.e. all installed applications are deleted, all system settings are reset. Data on the memory card remains. If you changed the system data (the contents of the / system section), i.e. something was replaced in the operating system (for example, they installed the driver, got the superuser rights), or deleted the system files, such data will not be restored.
    Z
  • zRam - Linux kernel module. Increases the amount of free RAM due to data compression. At the same time, the processor of the device is more loaded. Used on devices with a small amount of RAM. It is installed and included additionally.
    M
  • Mounting - A process that prepares a disk partition for use by the operating system. That is, the mounting is the process of connecting the file system to the root file system "/" for use by its operating system. Unlike Windows OS, Android system has a different file system. For example, when connecting a flash drive in Windows, it is displayed as a "removable disk F" F: \, and in Linux, for example, as a folder to / mnt / sdcard in the root (where the OS is installed) file system "/".


List of popular unofficial recovery

List of popular unofficial firmware


In the creation of the Glossary participated:mainbord , Crea , junoreaktor , Prislav , _faber_ , JunkiedOK , racoon

Post has been editedGridzilla - 22.11.18, 07:42


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