Prerequisites

Building the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) for automotive development requires a set of specific tools and resources to manage the source code, compile it, and test the resulting Android build. These tools are primarily software and development environment setup items. Here’s a detailed list of what you would typically need:

Hardware Requirements

1. Powerful Computer: AOSP compilation is resource-intensive. You'll need a powerful computer, preferably with a 64-bit CPU, at least 16 GB of RAM (though 32 GB or more is recommended for speed), and a large amount of SSD storage (at least 250 GB free, with 500 GB or more being ideal).

Software and Environment Setup

1. Operating System: Ubuntu is the recommended Linux distribution for AOSP development. Versions such as Ubuntu 18.04 (Bionic Beaver) or newer are typically supported.

2. JDK (Java Development Kit): Android 11 and newer versions require OpenJDK version 11. Installing the correct JDK version is critical for successful compilation.

3. Essential Packages and Tools: Depending on your Linux distribution, you'll need to install several packages, including Git, curl, gnupg, flex, bison, gperf, build-essential, zip, and others. Google provides a specific script (repo) to manage the multiple Git repositories that make up the Android source code.

4. Repo Tool: The repo tool helps manage the many repositories that form the Android source code. It's a critical tool for downloading the entire AOSP source code and keeping it updated.

5. Python: AOSP build system relies on Python, and specific scripts may require Python 2.7 or Python 3.x.

Development Tools

1. Android SDK: While not always necessary for just building AOSP, the Android SDK provides additional tools that are useful for developing and debugging applications and system components.

2. Android NDK (Native Development Kit): Necessary if you're planning to include or develop C or C++ components.

3. Integrated Development Environment (IDE): While you can use command line tools for all your development, IDEs like Android Studio can make managing, editing, and debugging the Android codebase easier.

4. Emulators or Test Devices: For automotive development, if actual automotive hardware isn’t available for testing, using emulators can be a practical solution. However, testing on real hardware as early as possible is highly recommended to account for the real-world hardware interactions and performance.

Build and Version Control

1. Git: Essential for version control and to manage your modifications to the AOSP source as well as to merge updates from the upstream AOSP repository.

Testing and Deployment Tools

1. CI/CD Tools: Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI can be configured to automate the building and testing processes, improving the efficiency and reliability of the development cycle.

2. Automotive-Specific Simulation Tools: Depending on the level of integration and simulation required, tools and platforms that can simulate automotive hardware (like QEMU for automotive systems, or more specialized automotive simulation software) may be necessary.

Documentation and Support

1. AOSP Documentation: Familiarity with the extensive documentation provided by AOSP is crucial for successful development.

Security and Compliance Tools

1. Security Tools: Since automotive systems can be critical, tools for analyzing and ensuring security of the software are essential.

2. Compliance Checkers: Tools to ensure compliance with automotive regulations and standards.

Building AOSP for automotive applications is a complex process that involves significant setup and configuration, but with the right tools and resources, it can lead to highly customized and powerful automotive software solutions.