Source Code
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Contents
Introduction & Setup Guide
Console OS is now a fully open-source project. It includes a synthesis of several different Android projects, as well as private-code drivers where needed to provide production-grade Android for the PC.
Console OS contains source code from several projects, including Android-x86.org, CyanogenMod, Remix OS, and Android-IA. It also includes closed-source binaries, but with an emphasis on ensuring they can be disabled by builders. As such, Console OS is one of the most scalable, and open, distributions of Android available.
Unlike AOSP, a perfectly functional - and consumer-friendly - distribution of Console OS can be built without any binary blob drivers. This ensures full code validation, and extreme security - from the bootloader, to the filesystem and kernel, to device encryption, to pre-installed applications.
- Build Instructions (Including Obtaining Source Code)
- Contributing
Known Open-source Issues
This is not a full list of topics related to Console OS. These only impact build or compilation issues related to our GitHub open-source distribution. It does not support Console OS builds released/distributed by us directly.
Intel Graphics Driver Issue
See Intel Graphics Source Bulletin
FAQ
Q: Is Console OS open source? A: As of Lollipop, yes. Prior to Lollipop, we used a licensed kernel from Intel. While we published kernel sources, pursuant to the GPL, we could not open-source most of Console OS previously. Under our new path forward, we have forked the Android-x86 community kernel, and thus Console OS is now open-source on GitHub.
Q: Can I share Console OS builds? A: If you build Console OS yourself, yes. Builds made by Console, Inc. are not free to share.
Q: Are official builds of Console OS Lollipop available yet? A: Yes, see Obtaining Console OS for download instructions.
Q: Why can't we share builds of Console OS that are official? A: Several reasons. Most importantly, they contain additional licensed components that we cannot open-source. For example, we licensed ARM translators from Intel. Unlike Android-x86.org, we have applied to the Open Handset Alliance. Finally, the only way to ensure we can endorse official builds, is to point people to Console.com.co for official downloads.
That said, we do encourage you to link to Console.com.co so that we can point people to official builds of Console OS. And again, if you build Console OS from GitHub, you are free to redistribute those builds.
Q: How can I brand open-source builds that I distribute myself? A: As with Android brand licensing, we have to say things like "Console OS with Android."
We'll ask you to do the same. You can call your distribution, for example, "Cookie Monster based on Console OS" - Please don't brand your builds in a way that would infer they were compiled by Console, Inc..
Q: What license does Console OS use? A: Much like the Android Open Source Project which we build atop, Console OS uses Apache 2.0, BSD, and GPLv2. Please do not push or submit code to our GitHub that is not compatible with those licenses, unless it is optional and in binary blob format. Please be sure to notate such code clearly in commits.
We are not responsible for third-party human error, or nefarious intent. If you notice non-compliant code, including GPLv3 code that dynamically links with the kernel, please alert us immediately - and we will promptly remove it.
Older Kernel Sources
For releases that occurred prior to pushing Console OS Lollipop to open-source. For all releses after our initial Lollipop preview release, visit our GitHub and pull the code directly from there. You can also check our Get the Code and Build Instructions for detailed compilation steps.
- Lollipop Technical Preview - Linux kernel code from our 2015 Lollipop Technical Preview for select Intel Atom (formerly "Bay Trail") devices.
- Console OS DR1 - Linux kernel code from Console OS Developer Release 1 (DR1), supporting both Intel Core and Intel Atom systems.