I downloaded the entire linux source and observed that it is only 500mb. But when I downloaded the android source code using repo sync it is more than 15 gb. I thought android was based on linux and it added some more features. But are the features added so much so that it becomes 15gb?What is the reason behind this?
Tell me more
×
Super User is a question and answer site for
computer enthusiasts and power users. It's 100% free, no registration required.
closed as off topic by ChrisF, slhck♦ Dec 24 '12 at 12:34
Questions on Super User are expected to relate to computer software or computer hardware within the scope defined in the FAQ. Consider editing the question or leaving comments for improvement if you believe the question can be reworded to fit within the scope. Read more about closed questions here.
|
Android uses Linux as its kernel. But it is much more than just a kernel. It's all of userspace as well, including tools, applications, and so on. A proper comparison would be Android's source to the source of an entire Linux distribution, not just the kernel. The source code for Debian's latest release takes 8 DVDs or so. Actually, Android also has to include the source needed to make the toolchain to support Android's target platforms. So you have the source code of various tools that don't even run under Android included in the distribution. The Linux kernel source requires you to already have a toolchain (compiler, linker, assembler, and so on) that supports your target platform. |
||||
|
|
