Samsung has released the kernel source code for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.
In brief, the kernel is the part of the Android operating system that handles input and output requests from hardware.
It translates commands between your device’s software and the hardware, and is thus an integral part of any mobile handset.
The new availability of the handsets’ kernel source code means that developers can now begin creating custom Android ROMs for both devices.
Related: Samsung Galaxy S6 vs S6 Edge: What’s different?
Unfortunately it’s not quite that simple, as Samsung has yet to release documentation for its mobile chip.
Samsung made the bold decision to include its own custom-built Exynos 7420 chipset on the company’s most recent flagship smartphone releases.
Qualcomm offers up detailed documentation for all of its Snapdragon series mobile chips, but Samsung guards its own chip information more closely.
This means that because developers can’t access the source code for the in-house chipset included on the S6 and S6 Edge, the creation of custom ROMs is hindered.
The handsets are Samsung’s latest flagship smartphones, and went on sale just last week, on April 10.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.