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Like all Free Software, the source code for stable Android/GNU/Linux can be downloaded. That's how Amazon built their fork.

See: http://source.android.com/

I concede that Google locks up the code for upcoming releases. No need really to tell you that most mature Free Software projects encourage bug reports and patch submissions, but limit source code commit privileges in order to maintain stability.

Evidently its more useful to develop/maintain a Free Java library for app developers. Or submit/maintain a kernel patch for a mobile device driver. Understand that Google does not control GNU/Linux. And even its control of Android is not enough to prevent forks.

UI/API tinkering and fragmentation hindered desktop GNU/Linux adoption. Why go there unless you want to fork?



> And even its control of Android is not enough to prevent forks.

If it did, Android wouldn't be free.

> UI/API tinkering and fragmentation hindered desktop GNU/Linux adoption

OTOH, it allowed Linux to expand beyond the desktop, into mobile and embedded. Linux devices probably outnumber PCs by a large multiple.




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