How do I add APKs in an AOSP build?

Question

I need to add some 3rd party APKs to my AOSP build. What folder should I keep these APKs so that when I build the code and the image is created, it is installed in the emulator?

It looks like the system apps are kept in the packages/app folder so I need to know where the third party APKs are kept.

Answer 1

Adding third party APKs to the build is definitely possible.

Also APKs and APPs with source code go to the same place; the package/app folder.

Adding a new APK to the build

In the AOSP root add the folder:

<aosp root>/package/app/< yourappfolder >

Then inside this folder add:

• empty Android.mk
• < yourapp.apk >

The android make file should have the reference to your apk, add this to your Android.mk:

LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)

include $(CLEAR_VARS)

LOCAL_MODULE_TAGS := optional

LOCAL_MODULE := < your app folder name >

LOCAL_CERTIFICATE := < desired key >

LOCAL_SRC_FILES := < app apk filename >

LOCAL_MODULE_CLASS := APPS

LOCAL_MODULE_SUFFIX := $(COMMON_ANDROID_PACKAGE_SUFFIX)

include $(BUILD_PREBUILT)

Create an entry in the commons.mk (usually in build/target/product) for your apk add the line (check where all the others are)

PRODUCT_PACKAGES += < what you have defined in LOCAL_MODULE, it should be your app folder name >

Compile the AOSP and you have a brand new app installed on the system.

Answer 2

You could also do the following in the target output dir:

<path-to-your-build-dir>/host/linux-x86/bin/simg2img system.img temp.img
mkdir system_root
sudo mount -t ext4 -o loop temp.img system_root

At this point you can make whatever changes you'd like to the files in system_root, i.e. adding apks to system/app etc...

When you're done just go back down to the output dir and do:

sudo umount system_root
<path-to-your-build-dir>/host/linux-x86/bin/img2simg temp.img system.img

You can now flash system.img using fastboot as usual.

Answer 3

The Android.mk presented above will install the APK in /system/app

If you wish to install the APK in /data/app you will need to add the following the line to Android.mk before line include $(BUILD_PREBUILT)

LOCAL_MODULE_PATH := $(TARGET_OUT_DATA)