Android has been the darling of operating systems for some time now, as the most popular OS on the planet. Its success is mostly due to its open-source configuration through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). It makes it easy for developers to integrate their technologies into the Android experience. This unprecedented accessibility has created a landscape rich for innovation and third-party app development. In a strategic shift, Google has announced plans to make Android’s development fully private, a move that will impact how the platform evolves and is accessed.
A New Direction for Android Development
Android’s open-source nature has been a curse for Google as much as it has been a blessing. On one hand, this unlocked a massive user base and allowed third-party developers to create a huge ecosystem of apps. Unfortunately, bad actors are using this openness to their advantage. They’re inventing malware, viruses and counterfeit software to steal user data and ruin genuine experiences. Google is making strides to address these challenges and speed up development processes. From there they’ll focus on an internal dev branch only open to their partners.
With this new model comes the decision from Google to stop supporting separate public and private branches of Android development. By standardizing these into a single internal branch, Google hopes to make it less painful to continue evolving the operating system. The company plans to keep posting updates through the AOSP but will restrict access to core developmental builds to the partners they authorize to receive them.
Implications for Developers and Partners
This move to a private development model represents a huge change for developers. They’ve relied on Android’s open-source nature to do so for just as long. You’ll continue to get these new developments expedited via the AOSP. Your previous level of integration will likely be impacted. Manufacturers such as Samsung and Motorola already have these arrangements in place with Google Mobile Services (GMS). Consequently, they will have an ongoing window into Android’s homegrown innovation.
To join the GMS, you need a licensing agreement with Google, which may restrict membership to more well-resourced, mature companies. This change would significantly change the future of app development on Android—they’d be creating new barriers that mainly impact smaller developers. The updates are intended to improve security and increase efficiency. They illustrate a desire and willingness from Google to maintain control over the ecosystem of the platform.
Balancing Innovation with Security
Google’s decision is just the latest example of an ongoing shift within the tech industry to strike a better balance between innovation and security. Though Android’s open-source availability was undeniably a big factor in its growth and popularity, this contributed risks today are proving overwhelmingly difficult to contain. By keeping development private, Google aims to avoid some of these risks and follow the spirit of innovation through supported partnerships.
