2y ago

Have any of you guys gone though the process of getting source code for a device in order to make custom roms?

I recently bought a Onn 4k TV box and am trying to get the GPL source code. Wish me luck as it may be a battle if I'm unlucky.

9 comments

Getting the source code is only one piece of the puzzle, before you do that, have you checked if the bootloader is unlockable? Because if you can't unlock the bootloader then there's no point trying to get the kernel sources.
You should also bear in mind that if you unlock the bootloader, you'd be degrading Widevine to L3, which means the video quality of Netflix and other streaming services would be downgraded to SD. One of the main reasons why people buy these TV boxes (instead of using a Raspberry Pior something) is to watch streaming services - but unlocking the bootloader breaks the DRM, which would defeat the whole point (IMO) - unless you don't plan on using those services?
- The ability to unlock the bootloader is actually irrelevant in this case. I want the source code because it is my right. I might find away to boot custom code or I may not. Either way I still want the sources to study at least.
  As for streaming services I use Jellyfin so its not a big deal.
  
  The ability to unlock the bootloader is actually irrelevant in this case. I want the source code because it is my right. I might find away to boot custom code or I may not.
  And what will you do with it exactly? Without unlocking the bootloader, it's basically useless. You should concentrate your efforts on seeing if you can unlock the bootloader first.
  Either way I still want the sources to study at least.
  There wouldn't be anything interesting about those sources, except the binary blobs/DTB. Unless you're expecting to find some malware or something. If you're really interested in studying the kernel/Android sources, you can always head to https://source.android.com/ or https://kernel.org/. There are also more interesting sources over at LineageOS and GrapheneOS.
  As for streaming services I use Jellyfin so its not a big deal.
  Then why did you even bother buying this box? You'd have been better off using a Raspberry Pi or some HTPC, where you could load any opensource distro or even easily compile your own, and have a far greater deal of flexibility and freedom.
Ooo. Yes, I expect that'll be a battle. More power to you and I'd love updates if anything happens. (If you can, of course.)
I'm guessing you may already be familiar with a lot of this, but some things to read up on if you're not:
The origins of OpenWrt which started from a demand to Linksys for GPL'd source code.
The ongoing court case "Software Freedom Conservancy v. Visio" about forcing Visio to comply with the GPL with regard to its smart TVs.
Also I'd recommend watching everything on the SFC's YouTube Channel as well as looking around on their website and maybe also Bradley Kuhn's website. (Bradley Kuhn is "Policy Fellow and Hacker-in-Residence" at the SFC.)
Heck. You might even benefit from trying to message the SFC about it. They might well be able to give you some guidance.
Edit: Ah. I see from another post that you've already been in contact with the FSF. What's the "FSC?" Did you mean "SFC?"
I remember way back, around 2013, asking Gigabyte Mobile for the kernel source of one of their devices (Mika M3) via their business support.
Needless to say, they obliged! They uploaded it and then gave a link to an FTP server and credentials to use it.
So sometimes it's just worth asking.
I couldn't compile it fwiw, because it was missing key Mediatek components, but eh, what can you do...
Isn't it typically just kernel sources that would need to be released under GPL? A custom kernel is typically a few steps later in bringing up a custom rom for a device. The existing build is probably enough to try and get twrp running if you can get the bootloader unlocked.
Edit: All the same, very noble. Best of luck getting the sources, and making something useful of them.
There used to be a community dedicated to doing this to Final Fantasy Tactics called Final Fantasy Hacktics but Squaresoft shut it the fuck down with copyright strikes hard core a few years ago and now most of the people that were involved are afraid to share any of the work anymore. One guy made Goku from DBZ a playable character in the game, it was good times.
https://www.xda-developers.com/lineageos-18-1-android-tv-11-walmart-onn-4k-dynalink-tv-box/

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