Lineage OS : an open source Android

Believe it or not, this whole project started almost by accident.

Or by serendipity, as some might say.

A bit of context:

As I work for a high-tech company, once a year they hold a sort of garage sale where they liquidate old surplus stock. Not only did I find a bunch of graphics cards, but they were also giving away boxes full of miscellaneous items for free.

Among them were plenty of smartphone cases and screen protectors.

I even found a case for my old but loyal Huawei P20 Lite, which I use as an MP3 player when I go to the gym (which, I must admit, doesn't happen very often these days).

More interestingly, I found a case and screen protector for the Google Pixel 3.

At the time of writing this, the FlipFlaptops itch.io page is still pretty empty, so you may not know exactly what I do here.

Well, I'm somewhat of a tech scavenger. I collect older laptops, refurbish them, and sell them at affordable prices to people who need a computer.

I don't usually deal with phones. However, the Pixel 3 caught my attention because that free accessory kit turned out to be the perfect excuse to try something I had always wanted to do, but never really got around to: running an open-source Android operating system.

I already knew that Pixel phones are particularly well suited for this, as the process is generally easier than with most other brands.

So a few days later, there I was, smiling with a newly acquired (used) Pixel 3 that I had picked up cheaply on Facebook Marketplace.

I tried to document the installation process as thoroughly as I could, but since it was my very first time installing a custom Android ROM, the documentation may be a little rough around the edges.

So, fair warning: I do not claim to provide an in-depth technical guide. However, it may still be interesting to follow along and see the different steps, screens, and tools involved if you've ever wondered what it looks like to take control of your phone beyond the manufacturer's software suite,or OEM software, for the geekiest among you.

Think of these article more as a journey than a tutorial.

Or simply as entertainment.



That being said, follow the project to get all the updates!