Prior to proceeding, it should be clarified that this news does not indicate that Android is ceasing open-source development, but rather changing the way source code is showcased.
Originally, Android’s source code had two branches: the source code displayed publicly on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and the internal source code accessible only by teams from Google and partner companies under the Google Mobile Services (GMS) agreement.
In the past, Google chose to develop certain parts of the Android code (such as the Bluetooth Stack) on the AOSP branch, while the majority of the code resided in the internal branch. Once the development was completed, the code would then be released on the AOSP branch.
The recent alteration entails Google discontinuing code development on the AOSP branch and solely focusing on the internal branch. This decision aims to streamline the code development process, reducing the need to oversee two branches, thus minimizing the time and effort required to manage various patches between branches and resolve merge conflicts.
From the perspective of the general users, they may not notice this change as Google continues to release new versions of Android’s open-source code through the AOSP project, albeit at a slower pace.
Source: Android Authority
TLDR: Google is shifting its focus from developing code on the AOSP branch to concentrating solely on the internal branch, aiming to simplify the development process and minimize the time and effort spent on managing multiple branches and resolving conflicts.
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