b2gdroid

b2gdroid is an experiment that let you use Gaia (the user interface of FirefoxOS) on your Android device, as an alternative homescreen.

downloads

The current version is available at https://github.com/fabricedesre/b2gdroid/releases/download/0.11/b2gdroid-41.0a1.en-US.android-arm.apk

building

Building b2gdroid is done using:

• The gecko patch from bug 1170323.
• The b2gdroid gaia branch.

1. First, create a gaia profile using the b2gdroid distribution directory:

   #!/bin/bash
   export GAIA_DISTRIBUTION_DIR=distros/b2gdroid
   export PRODUCTION=1
   export NOFTU=1
   export MOZILLA_OFFICIAL=1
   rm -rf profile && make profile
   

2. Create a suitable mozconfig file. The one I'm using is as follows:

   # Build Firefox for Android:
   ac_add_options --enable-application=mobile/android
   ac_add_options --target=arm-linux-androideabi
   
   # With the following Android SDK and NDK:
   ac_add_options --with-android-sdk="/home/fabrice/.mozbuild/android-sdk-linux/platforms/android-21"
   ac_add_options --with-android-ndk="/home/fabrice/.mozbuild/android-ndk-r8e"
   
   ac_add_options --enable-android-apz
   
   # ac_add_options --enable-debug
   ac_add_options --enable-debug-symbols
   
   ac_add_options --enable-updater
   
   mk_add_options MOZ_OBJDIR=/home/fabrice/dev/builds/obj-b2gdroid
   mk_add_options AUTOCLOBBER=1
   mk_add_options MOZ_MAKE_FLAGS="-j8 -s"
   

3. Build b2gdroid. I use a helper script for that, the important part being to set GAIA_DIR properly and to point to the right mozconfig file:

   #!/bin/sh
   export GAIA_DIR=/home/fabrice/dev/gaia/profile
   export MOZCONFIG=/home/fabrice/dev/builds/mozconfig-b2gdroid
   make -C /home/fabrice/dev/gecko -f client.mk && make -C ./obj-b2gdroid/ package
   

4. Push b2gdroid to your device. This can be done by running mach install from your MOZ_OBJDIR directory.