One of the main problems of the Android operating system is a big fragmentation and slow update devices to new versions.
At the beginning of this month, running released almost 9 months ago Android Nougat works only 7.1% of all Android devices, and Android Marshmallow installed only 31.2% of the devices. Google has already made several attempts to reduce fragmentation, but they were unsuccessful. So the search giant decided to radically change the structure of Android to speed up the release of updates.
Google introduced a new initiative, Project Treble — modular Android. In theory, this will allow device manufacturers to not waste time on adapting the new versions of Android to their devices. Before the release of Android updates took place as follows: Google releases a new version of Android; then, Qualcomm, MediaTek and other chipset manufacturers have to roll out drivers, so their processors are supported by this firmware; then OEMs like Samsung, LG, Huawei and others are beginning to integrate with source code Android your shell settings and so on. In the case with smartphones and some tablet manufacturers also must wait for confirmation from the mobile operator. Only after all users receive the updates.
C using Project Treble low-level code will be separated from the Android Framework. If before the graphical shell from the manufacturers were integrated with Android, but now it will be a separate module Vendor Interface. Manufacturers will only need to hold the tool Vendor Test Suite the compatibility test in their shells with a code Android to ensure the device is ready to upgrade to a new version of an operating system maintaining the code.
Simply put, producers will no longer need to spend time on the integration of their shells with Android. Simply create it and then attach the module to the Android source code provided by Google.
Google says that Android O will be the first version of Android with the use of the Treble Project. Moreover, the modular structure is already used in a test build of Android O for Nexus devices and Pixel. If the manufacturers will support this initiative, coming in the fall, many devices are upgraded to Android O promptly.
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