Goddamn I wish I could build a custom phone OS like Arch. I would actually take the time and do that.
You totally can. Android phones are basically a Linux kernel with a nice GUI. Just find the appropriate modules for your specific hardware, then assemble a suitable set of software to provide an user interface, and voila. We even already have good support for touch screen, phone calls, and a lot of other things available as separate pieces. I’m sure people will be happy to have this, myself included. Oh, and once you get all the pieces, remember to fix all the weird quirks, who would want a phone where the gyroscope stop working when you enable the camera, right?
What? That’s too much work? Yeah. That’s exactly why people are seeking for a large, resourceful entity to do that. Because it requires a truckload of time, effort, and knowledge. Today, “building” a linux distro is possible because of the vast amount of effort invested in it for decades.
You totally can. Android phones are basically a Linux kernel with a nice GUI. Just find the appropriate modules for your specific hardware, then assemble a suitable set of software to provide an user interface, and voila. We even already have good support for touch screen, phone calls, and a lot of other things available as separate pieces. I’m sure people will be happy to have this, myself included. Oh, and once you get all the pieces, remember to fix all the weird quirks, who would want a phone where the gyroscope stop working when you enable the camera, right?
What? That’s too much work? Yeah. That’s exactly why people are seeking for a large, resourceful entity to do that. Because it requires a truckload of time, effort, and knowledge. Today, “building” a linux distro is possible because of the vast amount of effort invested in it for decades.
So ya. Building your own is not a legit option yet. When it becomes more feasible, I’ll be one of the early adopters.