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The point that Joe is making is that people can't participate in the official, Google-supported, widely distributed version of the code. They can fork the code

The point that Joe is making is that people can't participate in the official, Google-supported, widely distributed version of the code. They can fork the code and do whatever they want, but that fork doesn't have a lot of value if it doesn't have distribution. They can fix a bug, but they can only fix it for themselves, not their customers who get Android through retail stores. You may of course say "Google has no obligation to let people contribute to their distribution". And you'd be right. But this is like saying "I am under no obligation to smile and say hello when you enter the elevator". You'd be right. But people do it anyway because it makes the world a better place. Likewise, Joe is saying it would be nice if Google allowed people to contribute directly to the main distribution of Android. They're under no obligation to do so, but it sure would be cool. I hope this clears things up. Full disclosure: I work on Chrome at Google which has some of the features Joe is asking for in Android. I also wish Android had them, but I have no special insight into why they're missing.

bad_user 16y ago
Personally I hate fake smiles. Also, try contributing to the Linux kernel.
- pmjordan 16y ago
  Also, try contributing to the Linux kernel. I did, and now it includes some of my code. What's your point? Their standards for code quality are high, but let's face it, the kernel wouldn't have reached 10MLOC if it was written like Wordpress. Android won't accept your patches at all. Speaking of the kernel, the Android project hasn't been very good about merging back their kernel patches. Getting better, but they're now pretty far from mainline.
kenjackson 16y ago
I agree those things would be nice. But that's not the issue. The issue is if Android is open or not. I personally think it would be nice if nothing shipped with the GPL as it restricts my freedom, but I won't claim gcc is not open. The issue isn't if Android can improve along a given vector. Rather it is is Android a closed platform because there exists a branch that doesn't take public contributions or have a public tree. I don't think so.

bad_user 16y ago

Personally I hate fake smiles. Also, try contributing to the Linux kernel.

pmjordan 16y ago
Also, try contributing to the Linux kernel. I did, and now it includes some of my code. What's your point? Their standards for code quality are high, but let's face it, the kernel wouldn't have reached 10MLOC if it was written like Wordpress. Android won't accept your patches at all. Speaking of the kernel, the Android project hasn't been very good about merging back their kernel patches. Getting better, but they're now pretty far from mainline.

kenjackson 16y ago

I agree those things would be nice. But that's not the issue. The issue is if Android is open or not. I personally think it would be nice if nothing shipped with the GPL as it restricts my freedom, but I won't claim gcc is not open. The issue isn't if Android can improve along a given vector. Rather it is is Android a closed platform because there exists a branch that doesn't take public contributions or have a public tree. I don't think so.