Samsung releases Captivate source code

By on Jul 30, 2010 at 8:42 AM
Software July 30, 2010

Yay open source! Samsung has released the source code for the SGH-I897, better known as the Captivate (the AT&T variant of the Galaxy S). In a letter to developers Samsung writes:

You can download the source code of SGH-I897 on this site in Mobile Category, SGH-I897 model.
Thank you.

The source is about 160 megabytes in size and available to all who want it, no signups necessary. Hit up opensource.samsung.com to download the goods!

[Via BriefMobile]

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33 Comments

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  • Zephxiii

    Hell yea.

  • Android

    I’ma take this. I’ma take this and make it my own. I’ma take this and make it my own steak dinner.

  • http://kvirtanen.deviantart.com Kimmo

    There seems to also be a ZIP file for the GT-I9000 (European Samsung Galaxy S)

  • SuperMex

    I’ve had an opportunity to demo this phone and it’s the Shiz! I like it a lot.

  • SC

    Also the SGH-T959 T-Mobile Vibrant!

  • George Curious

    Am I wrong in thinking this is pretty cool?

  • BxK

    This is how it should be

  • AT

    Motorola really needs to get on the right page.

  • chase

    Sry if i am stupid for asking this but what exactly does having the open source code do?

    • Arthur P. Johnson

      Nothing for now, but lots in the not-too-distant future.

      • chase

        like what kinds of things? I honestly know nothing about source codes and stuff…..what benefits in the future would having this bring?

      • Crabs

        It means that people can easily modify the source, so they can make custom ROMs that work well, because they’re from the original source code, and the coders don’t have to do nearly as much digging and compiling. Also, it means that if you want to port something cool from these phones, you can do that pretty easily.

        PS, just in case you’re totally lost, the source code is, in essence, the underlying code that makes up the operating system.

      • chase

        thank you, yea i knew it was the underlying code that makes up the os. Just wasnt sure what having the open source would allow but you explained things well thanks.

  • Arthur P. Johnson

    I dare anyone of any stripe not to love this. They just flung down the gauntlet to HTC and Apple — and zoomed to the top of my preferred producers list. Go Samsung! (There’s gotta be a catch. Why are they being so, uh, civil?

  • Crabs

    Chalk one more point up for Samsung vs Motorola. And HTC, for that matter. I’m just more annoyed at Moto, at the moment.

    I was already considering the Vibrant/Fascinate instead of a Droid X. I have a VZW and a T-Mo plan, just trying to decide which I’d rather keep, and which I’d rather kick to the curb. Strangely, contrary to most areas, where I live, T-Mobile kicks VZ’s ass in terms of coverage. Unfortunately, in my experience, VZ’s 3G is way faster. But then, HSPA+ hasn’t lit up here yet, and supposedly that makes the 3G a lot faster, even for the devices that are only capable of the 7.2 Mbps.

    I really, really love Samsung right now.

  • Dynomike

    Would love the Fascinate BEFORE Sept, though I know it’s not going to happen b/c the Droid 2 comes out in Aug. No way Big Red is going to release two top-tier Androids in the same month…and so the wait continues…

  • rederikus

    MAJOR SALES POINT. You get Google as a search engine. Buy One!

    On some Verizon phones they force that POS Bing as the only search tool.

    Microsoft (whom I dearly love) should admit failure with Bing and give it up.

    I wasnt WIndows Mobile 7 but I won’t buy a WM7 phone UNLESS I get Google as my search engine,

  • B-dawg

    @Arthur

    The catch? There’s a certain among of propriety shit that Samsung gets to keep, meaning some of it can’t be tampered with.

  • crnewhouse

    I think Samsung did this so the Captivate can compete with the iPhone more easily. Think about it, a Samsung phone with tons of ROMS because the source code is so readily available means lots of really innovative ROMS and cusomization ideas. Smart move on Samsung’s part.

  • Chickbanacoot

    What does this mean source codes? Is like iPhone jailbreak?

    • http://www.nostdal.org/ Lars Rune Nøstdal

      Chickbanacoot:
      The phone doesn’t need a jailbreak; it’s an open platform already.

      What opening the source code means is that people can fix and change things themselves if they want to or see the need. E.g. like mentioned here: http://briefmobile.com/samsung-open-sources-captivates-code

  • b squared

    So basically they just saved everyones time who’s been trying to root it?

    • jonathanp

      No, it has been rooted already. In fact every firmware has been rooted at this point.

      What this does is makes it easier for developers to make custom roms.

      It’s like having an iPhone and being able to load a custom ipsw that changes the themes, the icons, the screen, etc. It basically allows the developers to do what they want with android. Since Android is open and out there, most carriers will modify it to fit their needs (captivate has touch wiz, locks down the market, etc.) but when a developer changes it, they can do whatever they want to put and modify stock Android on their phone.

  • SteveM

    Does this source code make it easier to upgrade this phone to future released versions of Android (Froyo or Gingerbread) without waiting for Samsung to push out an update?

  • Bob

    If I had to guess only certain parts are being opened up to the public and if the device has locked boot loader custom roms are still going to be a problem. This applies to Motorola as well as they have released open-source tid-bits for thier devices, but not everything and it doesn’t mean ROMs galore.

    I hope it does, but we shouldn’t get our hopes up.

  • Steve

    Just downloaded the file and un-zipped it, whats next ?

    • jonathanp

      wait until a developer cooks up a good rom that replaces the stock android on our phone.

      • Steve

        Oh okay, I thought I can use it to root the phone or something.

      • ViniD

        Rooting the phone takes like 1 minute just google it.

  • Jonathanp

    Search for xda on google to learn about rooting and how to modify the captivate.

  • tcseacliff

    this is one painfully slow download, but worth the wait.

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