Developing perfect firmware

[puppetshow]

I decided to build my own, custom firmware. But unlike others, I have really different ideas. In this topic I would like to list them, get feedback about them, and ask for anything you'd like to see in firmware. So let the topic begin!

1. Base
This firmware is based on .08p generic. Motorola is the most stupid company in the world, where new versions of firmware remove features of previous (like: 09p has removed screen3 and info service doesn't work; 10 and newer don't even support native programs), so I use this - newest one which works 100%.

2. Features
- Everything is unlocked (4 shortcuts, 2 hardware buttons)
- No preload shit that only bloat your phone. YOU choose what you want!
- Install service - you won't need any mpkg or anything, because you'll have package manager! Install, uninstall, reinstall - easy. However this will be command line tool, to execute from telnet/ekonsole - or you can develop/use clickable front-end. But again - it's not going to bloat your phone, because it'll be invisible for mere user. He'll just do something like ezx-get install ekonsole and the newest version of ekonsole will be downloaded and installed

That's about my current ideas for the firmware.

3. Feature requests
?? Post your needs I'll edit the post.

Any suggestions? Improvements? Ideas? Post them!

[drhstoor]

i like ur idea. i also want to do this but i don't know how to create a firmware.
please add gprs settings of Indian service operators. i know preinstalled applications is not in ur idea, but if u can add datasafe & profile manager from workingman's f/w, or make the f/w able to work on it than it will be fine thing. also take care about camera quality.
if possible add the basic features like image editor, real player etc. those one which are ported from a1600.
waiting for the release.
thanks
MOT-MOTOROKRE6/R533_G_11.12.08P Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Linux; MOTOROKRE6; 781) Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 Opera 8.00 [en]

[Konig]

I'd say take out java apps.
As for me, I just need startup scripts. All apps are already on my memory card, so don't need anything there.
Id suggest you think about using aksd's autoswap concept.
USBNet to be included

Will think of more if possible

[puppetshow]

As for autostart, see:

if [ -f /ezx_user/etc_files/startup ]; then
    chmod +x /ezx_user/etc_files/startup
    /ezx_user/etc_files/startup
end

- that way, we can have autorun, without the need for memory card. And we can easily write to that file.

All java apps are gone, same for ringtones and wallpapers (just one ring and one wallpaper left). Instead I put busybox binary there, and removed standard ash/bash/sh, now it uses busybox' ash. And I added terminfo entries, so programs in ncurses will work. And tab-complete, up arrow history, etc.
There is also modified /etc/profile (no need to . /home/native/.profile). I don't really understand /etc/fstab in ezx, it's totally inaccurate to things really mounted :/
I would like to have everything (all fw's files, except for memory card) mounted on jffs2-type (included in kernel) rw partition, but for now that's beyond my skill... no info about motorola's internals, heh.
I also integrated ext3/ext2/loop drivers. I'd love to integrate bluez module, but my toolchain isn't able to compile any kernel module...

Autoswap - yeah. It'll just look for swap file in your desired directory (at least the /ezx_user/etc_files will be useful - that's where config files live, because it's safer than memory card, and won't take up much space).
USBnet never worked for me, so I'll just leave it as a program you can install from pkg. I'd like to put "motnet" in usb modes, but so far I have no idea how, still have to work on it.

@drhstoor: Nothing will be integrated, sorry You can always install them in any way you prefer, which takes just seconds. I don't know about camera quality - is it software dependant? And about newer software from a1600 - I've read they don't add anything useful, but are more bugged on our e6. So there is no point in doing that.

Release? In a month or so :P For now I'm working with files extracted from firmware (hell, is there a safe way to test things? Like virtual machine working like E6?) packaging and testing will be later.

[Konig]

Release? In a month or so :P For now I'm working with files extracted from firmware (hell, is there a safe way to test things? Like virtual machine working like E6?) packaging and testing will be later.

Unfortunately, nothing of that sort, You have to do it the hard way or get a beta tester whos ready to put his phone on the line
You could always just flash individual CGs, with rdl3 included of course

[swifty]

is there a safe way to test things? Like virtual machine working like E6?)

I don't know of an emulator for ezx, but i think a nfs mount is faster for testing.
ezx-get == great idea
next best idea can be an ezx-shop.
iDiots will pay money for not working versions of tetris
Opera/8.51 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en)

[puppetshow]

Yeah, but I doubt I can flash cg43 for example, and that's what I need (mainly). I'd have to umount it first to make process secure, but it's root, so I can't umount it...
There definitely should be some sort of VM to emulate this phone, after all it's just arm cpu and bunch of things. OpenMoko has it's qemu-based emulator, maybe it'd be possible for e6 too :F
Then we all could make really brave changes to firmware, without the risk of getting shiny brick.

[swifty]

i am thinking more on the writeable white ming from tmp_do

[swifty]

i hope this post tells more
http://www.motorolafans.com/forums/a...tml#post170764

sorry to tmp_do for the messed up thread.
(i remember there is something missing)

[colpino]

Your idea is perfect no need to add innecessary stuff... juts make it fast!!! and add a good volume to it.

everything is perfect... i hope u finish it soon, good luck.