HAL Interface Definition Language (AIDL/HIDL)
Android 8 redesigns the framework of the Android operating system to allow manufacturers to update devices to the new version of the Android system at a lower cost, easier and faster. In this new system, HIDL specifies the interface between the HAL and its users, allowing users to replace the Android framework without refactoring the HAL.
In Android 10, the functions responsible for HIDL are integrated into AIDL, which means that HIDL is deprecated and only used by subsystems that have not been converted to AIDL.
This new framework completes the decoupling of the Android operating system framework and the supplier interface.
- The update process for older versions
Many things need to be modified (mainly to update the Android framework, and to find the corresponding hardware supplier to modify the corresponding driver part), and the person responsible for iterative upgrade has a grim expression.
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The update process for new versions
Decouple the Android framework and Vendor implementation, so that updating the Android part will not affect the driver part, it's perfect!
- Android 8 and higher versions can only adopt this framework. In order to ensure the forward compatibility of the supplier interface, VTS (Vendor Test Suite) is provided, which is similar to CTS (Compatibility Test Suite - for the upper API. ), you can use both to realize the automated testing of HAL and Kernel.