LineageOS is a free and open-source Android distribution that provides an alternative operating system for mobile devices.
The project addresses the need for a customizable, community-driven Android experience by maintaining its own source trees and build infrastructure. It works by allowing developers to initialize local repositories using LineageOS-specific trees, sync the source code, and build the operating system for supported devices. The project emphasizes accessibility to the build process through documentation on its wiki, organized by individual device.
LineageOS suits developers and users who want to build Android from source with community modifications rather than relying on manufacturer or carrier versions. It is appropriate for anyone with a supported device who wants to participate in development or simply run a community-maintained build. The project welcomes patch submissions through its Gerrit code review system and provides clear guidelines for contributors.
The project maintains automated weekly builds across all supported devices through its buildbot infrastructure, with build status publicly visible. Patches submitted by contributors go through formal code review on the LineageOS Gerrit instance. The source trees are kept buildable through periodic builds triggered by commits, ensuring the codebase remains in a functional state.
