Google Android Compatibility Definition: Android 1.6 - Manual (Page 4)

1. Introduction
This document enumerates the requirements that must be met in order for mobile phones to be
compatible with Android 1.6. This definition assumes familiarity with the Android Compatibility Program
[
Resources , 1].
The use of "must", "must not", "required", "shall", "shall not", "should", "should not", "recommended",
"may" and "optional" is per the IETF standard defined in RFC2119 [
Resources , 2].
As used in this document, a "device implementer" or "implementer" is a person or organization developing
a hardware/software solution running Android 1.6. A "device implementation" or "implementation" is the
hardware/software solution so developed.
To be considered compatible with Android 1.6, device implementations:
1. MUST meet the requirements presented in this Compatibility Definition, including any documents
incorporated via reference.
2. MUST pass the Android Compatibility Test Suite (CTS) available as part of the Android Open
Source Project [ Resources , 3]. The CTS tests most, but not all, components outlined in this
document.
Where this definition or the CTS is silent, ambiguous, or incomplete, it is the responsibility of the device
implementer to ensure compatibility with existing implementations. For this reason, the Android Open
Source Project [
Resources , 4] is both the reference and preferred implementation of Android. Device
implementers are strongly encouraged to base their implementations on the "upstream" source code
available from the Android Open Source Project. While some components can hypothetically be replaced
with alternate implementations this practice is strongly discouraged, as passing the CTS tests will become
substantially more difficult. It is the implementer's responsibility to ensure full behavioral compatibility with
the standard Android implementation, including and beyond the Compatibility Test Suite.
2. Resources
This Compatibility Definition makes reference to a number of resources that can be obtained here.
1. Android Compatibility Program Overview: https://sites.google.com/a/android.com/compatibility/
how-it-works
2. IETF RFC2119 Requirement Levels: http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt
3. Compatibility Test Suite: http://sites.google.com/a/android.com/compatibility/compatibility-test-
suite--cts
4. Android Open Source Project: http://source.android.com/
5. API definitions and documentation: http://developer.android.com/reference/packages.html
6. Content Providers: http://code.google.com/android/reference/android/provider/package-
summary.html
7. Available Resources: http://code.google.com/android/reference/available-resources.html
8. Android Manifest files: http://code.google.com/android/devel/bblocks-manifest.html
9. Android Permissions reference: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/
Manifest.permission.html
10. Build Constants: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/os/Build.html
11. WebView: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/webkit/WebView.html
12. Gears Browser Extensions: http://code.google.com/apis/gears/