MicroG a project to prevent Android from becoming a private operating system

microG

Android, Google's mobile operating system it is possibly the most used operating system in the world. Google's operating system Not only is it open source, but it is also based on the Linux kernel.

As such, many expect the system to be completely open and free, but unfortunately, it seems that no. Some members of the Android community are concerned that Android will become a proprietary operating system in the long run.

To remedy this, some have come together to implement the microG project which aims for a completely free re-deployment of apps and libraries from Google's Android user space.

MicroG based on keeping Android open source

Then, the microG team explained that some popular applications, despite being open source, now require the installation of Google's proprietary libraries.

Added to all this are serious problems in Google's proprietary software that have been discovered and reported by the Android mod community.

Therefore, they explained, this situation led them to begin development of a "clone" of Google's application software and libraries.

The project is called microG and the main objective is to bring to the Android community an open and free implementation of the main libraries and applications for the system.

According to the team, although most of the microG components are far from complete, the results are surprising.

This will allow free software users to benefit broad support for your applications. Privacy-conscious users can reduce or control the data sent to Google.

In particular, older phones can expect improvements in battery life, microG is not only used in real devices, it also replaces Google tools in test emulators and is even used in virtual mobile infrastructure.

In the community, microG is considered a "fantastic project". For some, microG will become a very useful option in the coming years to circumvent the many requirements of Google and its policy of blocking third-party applications in the Android ecosystem.

They give the example of LineageOS that already uses some microG implementations. LineageOS for microG is a full Android experience without Google Apps.

Since it includes a free microG implementation of applications and libraries that own Google's Android user space. This allows you to use all the Google services you need without having to keep closed source on your Android system.

Here are the different components of the microG project.

Service Core or GmsCore

GmsCore, is a library application that provides the necessary functionality to run applications that use Google Play services or Google Maps Android API (v2).

In other words, it is a free and open implementation of the Google Play service framework. Allows applications that invoke Google APIs exclusive runs on AOSP-based ROMs such as Replicant and LineageOS.

As a replacement for the closed source of Google Apps (GAPPS), is a powerful tool to regain your privacy while enjoying the main features of Android.

The GmsCore app has many features including: enable Google services and expand app support, provide online / offline location, less battery, memory and processor impact and runs on real devices, test emulators and a virtual mobile infrastructure.

Also, it is free and open source and does not require any bloatware.

Services Framework Proxy GsfProxy

GsfProxy is a small utility that allows applications developed for messaging Google Cloud to Device (C2DM) use the messaging service compatible with Google Cloud that is provided with GmsCore.

The Unified Network Location Provider (UnifiedNlp) is a library that provides location-based Wi-Fi and cell towers for applications using Google's network location provider. It is included in GmsCore, but it can also work standalone on most Android systems.

maps v1

Mapsv1 Maps API is a system library that provides the same functionality as the Google Maps API (v1), currently deprecated.

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  1.   Miguel Angel said

    Very interesting, I knew that LineageOS existed and that Google apps could be installed separately via picoApps, but I didn't know that MicroG existed to replace Google apps.

    From what I see "Lineage Os for MicroG" is a fork of LineageOS that uses MicroG by default, and that brings the F-droid store by default, but this can be configured via the Playmaker repository to download applications from Google Play.

    I mean according to that you can access the Google Play applications, without having the Gapps. Now I don't know if Huawei could use something like that.

    regards

  2.   Nomenicant said

    The most advanced and easy microg installer is nanodroid

    In the Telegram channel and group @NoGoolag you have guides and help