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Linux Kernel: Android Architecture

The document discusses the architecture of Android operating system. It is divided into five main sections - Linux kernel, libraries, Android runtime, application framework, and applications. The Linux kernel provides low-level hardware support. Libraries provide common functions for various tasks like web browsing, audio/video playback etc. The Android runtime includes the Dalvik VM and core libraries for building Android apps using Java. The application framework contains system services for activities, content providers, notifications etc. Finally, applications are built and run on top.

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KASIITA PATRICK
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94 views

Linux Kernel: Android Architecture

The document discusses the architecture of Android operating system. It is divided into five main sections - Linux kernel, libraries, Android runtime, application framework, and applications. The Linux kernel provides low-level hardware support. Libraries provide common functions for various tasks like web browsing, audio/video playback etc. The Android runtime includes the Dalvik VM and core libraries for building Android apps using Java. The application framework contains system services for activities, content providers, notifications etc. Finally, applications are built and run on top.

Uploaded by

KASIITA PATRICK
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MOBILE PHONE APP DEVELOPMENT IN JAVA – GCS 3106

Android Architecture
Android operating system is a stack of software components which is roughly divided into five
sections and four main layers as shown below in the architecture diagram.

Linux kernel
At the bottom of the layers is Linux - Linux 3.6 with approximately 115 patches. This provides a
level of abstraction between the device hardware and it contains all the essential hardware drivers
like camera, keypad, display etc. Also, the kernel handles all the things that Linux is really good
at such as networking and a vast array of device drivers, which take the pain out of interfacing to
peripheral hardware.

Libraries
On top of Linux kernel there is a set of libraries including open-source Web browser engine
WebKit, well known library libc, SQLite database which is a useful repository for storage and
sharing of application data, libraries to play and record audio and video, SSL libraries responsible
for Internet security etc.

Credit: Tutorial Points Page 1|3


MOBILE PHONE APP DEVELOPMENT IN JAVA – GCS 3106

Android Libraries
This category encompasses those Java-based libraries that are specific to Android development.
Examples of libraries in this category include the application framework libraries in addition to
those that facilitate user interface building, graphics drawing and database access. A summary of
some key core Android libraries available to the Android developer is as follows −
 android.app − Provides access to the application model and is the cornerstone of all
Android applications.
 android.content − Facilitates content access, publishing and messaging between
applications and application components.
 android.database − Used to access data published by content providers and includes
SQLite database management classes.
 android.opengl − A Java interface to the OpenGL ES 3D graphics rendering API.
 android.os − Provides applications with access to standard operating system services
including messages, system services and inter-process communication.
 android.text − Used to render and manipulate text on a device display.
 android.view − The fundamental building blocks of application user interfaces.
 android.widget − A rich collection of pre-built user interface components such as buttons,
labels, list views, layout managers, radio buttons etc.
 android.webkit − A set of classes intended to allow web-browsing capabilities to be built
into applications.
Having covered the Java-based core libraries in the Android runtime, it is now time to turn our
attention to the C/C++ based libraries contained in this layer of the Android software stack.

Android Runtime
This is the third section of the architecture and available on the second layer from the bottom. This
section provides a key component called Dalvik Virtual Machine which is a kind of Java Virtual
Machine specially designed and optimized for Android.
The Dalvik VM makes use of Linux core features like memory management and multi-threading,
which is intrinsic in the Java language. The Dalvik VM enables every Android application to run
in its own process, with its own instance of the Dalvik virtual machine.

Credit: Tutorial Points Page 2|3


MOBILE PHONE APP DEVELOPMENT IN JAVA – GCS 3106

The Android runtime also provides a set of core libraries which enable Android application
developers to write Android applications using standard Java programming language.

Application Framework
The Application Framework layer provides many higher-level services to applications in the form
of Java classes. Application developers are allowed to make use of these services in their
applications.
The Android framework includes the following key services −
 Activity Manager − Controls all aspects of the application lifecycle and activity stack.
 Content Providers − Allows applications to publish and share data with other
applications.
 Resource Manager − Provides access to non-code embedded resources such as strings,
color settings and user interface layouts.
 Notifications Manager − Allows applications to display alerts and notifications to the
user.
 View System − An extensible set of views used to create application user interfaces.

Applications
You will find all the Android application at the top layer. You will write your application to be
installed on this layer only. Examples of such applications are Contacts Books, Browser, Games
etc.

Credit: Tutorial Points Page 3|3

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