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Android is considered a Linux distro because it has the Linux kernel. True, the userland is different from desktop systems like Ubuntu, but this is still Linux. Android also has derivatives as do other Linux distros. Yes, there is not just Android, but other substitutes. I am not talking about iOS, Firefox OS, or Ubuntu Touch. I mean, forks/branches of Android exist. This article will discuss the different "Android Distros".
NOTE: Some people are probably confused by the fact that Android is Linux. Android does indeed use the Linux kernel. True, the "Android Kernel" is not a Vanilla kernel, but the Google developers need to make some minor changes to make the Linux kernel run on a mobile system. For instance, the Vanilla Kernel does not come with the drivers needed to run on Android tablets. For more information on the Android/Linux kernel, you may find some of the links below helpful.
- https://dcjtech.info/topic/androids-kernel-the-linux-kernel/
- https://android.googlesource.com/?format=HTML
- http://elinux.org/Android_Kernel_Features
Google first released Android in September 2008. Android is a popular mobile/embedded system that uses the Linux kernel. Android is a Unix-like system that uses some code and utilities from NetBSD. The APK packaging system is used just like Debian systems use DEB and Red-Hat systems use RPM. However, Android is not entirely open-source. Most of the operating system is open-source, but not all of it. This is what stimulated the creation of Android's derivatives.
I am sure that when I said forks and derivatives of Android, many of you thought "CyanogenMod". CyanogenMod appears to be the most popular Android fork. CyanogenMod was first made in 2009. It is entirely open-source and does have some differences with Android. For instance, CyanogenMod has FLAC codec support, CPU-overclocking abilities, and various other features and tweaks. CyanogenMod supposedly has less bloatware than Android, thus, it may run faster on a device than Android. CyanogenMod still uses the APK package system and may use Google's Play Store if the user desires. CyanogenMod uses a customizable launcher that supported various themes/skins. To "install" CyanogenMod, the user must root their Android device and apply the CyanogenMod firmware. Many users report positive experiences with rooting. However, rooting your device will void the warranty of your device. Also, it is possible that something can go wrong with the rooting and installation process. Be sure to backup all data, especially your personal files like music, videos, and pictures. I strongly advise users thoroughly read the official installation instructions and visit the main website for proper instructions and the installer. Do not download CyanogenMod from a third-party because some third-parties may make a malicious installer that can cause problems and create spyware.
LineageOS (http://lineageos.org/) is a fork of Cyanogenmod that was release December 2016. The operating system is open-source under the Apache License. LineageOS supports ARM, ARM64, x86, and x86-64 processors.
Android Open Kang Project (AOKP) is another Android fork. AOKP started in 2011 with the release of Ice-Cream-Sandwich (Android ICS). Like CyanogenMod, AOKP supports APK and is entirely open-source. AOKP is highly customizable. AOKP can even be set to vibrate differently depending on who calls you. If you like customizing your mobile system and you wish to use a fork of Android, then AOKP may be the system for you. (http://www.aokp.co/)
Remix OS (http://www.jide.com/remixos) is a form of Android that is designed for both mobile and desktop systems. This operating system uses the Linux kernel, but with some slight modifications (https://github.com/JideTechnology/remixos-kernel).
CopperheadOS (https://copperhead.co/android/) is a fork of Android by Copperhead Security with extra security features. The system uses the F-Droid and APK package managers. CopperheadOS has full storage encryption and SELinux (among many other additional security features and software).
Fira OS (http://fira.id) is an Indonesian fork of Android. This system was released January 2016.
Baidu Yi (http://rom.baidu.com/home) is a Chinese fork of Android. The company "Baidu" develops Baidu Yi and has replaced many of the Google applications with their own. Baidu Yi contains proprietary code.
Indus OS (http://www.indusos.com/) is a fork of Android designed for better language support in India. Indus OS uses the "App Bazaar" app-store.
LeWa OS (also called "Music Frogs" or "жабка") is a Android derivative that is optimized for the Chinese language. In other words, this is a localized system. LeWa OS uses the APK packaging system and contains some proprietary code. (English: http://www.lewaos.com/en/) (Chinese: http://www.lewaos.com/)
MIUI (pronounced as "me you I" and stands for "Mobile Internet User Interface") is an iOS-like Android derivative. MIUI still uses the Linux kernel and supports the APK packaging system. However, the system contains a lot of closed-source code and looks like iOS. MIUI has a virus scanner and is slowly becoming less like Android. MIUI and MIUI devices can be obtained from the company Xiaomi. (http://www.mi.com/en/)
The company Maizu develops smart phones with their own remix of Android called Flyme OS. (http://en.meizu.com/)
OPhone (http://www.ophonesdn.com) uses some code from Android, but OPhone is not a Android derivative. However, it is still an embedded mobile Linux system.
OmniROM is entirely open-source and uses APK although use of Google's Play Store is discouraged, but permitted. OmniROM has a lot in common with CyanogenMod. (http://omnirom.org/ and https://github.com/omnirom/)
Replicant (http://www.replicant.us/) is a like CyanogenMod or AOKP, but the focus of the Replicant project is security rather than performance or customizability. Replicant still supports APK and uses the Linux kernel. If you wish to use a derivative of Android and security is an concern of yours, then Replicant is probably the best choice for you.
XobotOS is an experimental project to replace Android's Java code with C#. The project is no longer maintained. Its purpose was a proof of concept by Miguel de Icaza. Even though XobotOS is no longer used, its existence can still teach us that an OS can still function while being written in a different programming language. It also proves that Android does not need to be written in more than one language. We can hope future programmers learn from Miguel's experiment. Thank you Miguel de Icaza! (https://github.com/xamarin/XobotOS)
Fire OS is a proprietary Android derivative that still uses APK and the Linux kernel. Many people use this operating system and they probably have no idea it is an Android derivative. Many of you using the device that Fire OS was made for may not even know that Fire OS is the name of the OS on the device. So, what is the name of the device that uses Fire OS........ The Kindle-Fire! Yes, the Kindle Fire is using an Android derivative and it is using the Linux kernel. (https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/fireos.html)
NOTE: The Nook also uses an Android derivative.
Not only does Android have forks and derivatives, but so does CyanogenMod. Cyanfox, Chameleon OS, AOSB (http://probam.net/), and others use CyanogenMod as their base.
Other Android derivatives exist, but I cannot discuss each and everyone. Android is an embedded mobile Linux and is more common than many of us think. Android and its derivatives are being used by more people and more devices.
Further Reading
- Cyanogenmod - https://dcjtech.info/topic/cyanogenmod/
- Android Article Index - https://dcjtech.info/topic/android-and-friends/
