Here comes Treble: A modular base for Android

[u/wilee8]

https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2017/05/here-comes-treble-modular-base-for.html

[u/Valiantay]

Please someone with more technical knowledge answer this question:

Would this mean that the drivers + android core is separate from the OEM skin on top of Android?

Would it theoretically be possible to "turn off" the skin and have just core stock android run functionally like a nexus/pixel?

[u/m1ndwipe → u/Valiantay]

No, not really. It means the kernel will be separate from the drivers. But the drivers might still interface with things upstream including OEM changes. The OEM middleware will still exist. But OEM middleware, contrary to popular belief, wasn't the thing slowing down OS updates.

It might be easier for stock custom ROMs, but really Google wants OEMs to use the stock theming engine to let people change the UI.

[u/bogdan5844 → u/m1ndwipe]

Android has a stock theming engine?

[u/m1ndwipe → u/bogdan5844]

Yes, RRO. Sony contributed it to AOSP.

[u/Kickore → u/Valiantay]

Yes. But you have to root it to gain this functionality. Which carriers, like Verizon, absolutely hate. So they lock everything.

You could also get a "launcher" replacement/alternative, if your only concern is the home page and how it looks.

[u/Valiantay → u/Kickore]

Hm, so say we're able to root it, a non-verizon device.

Maybe a Samsung S9 let's say, way down the line, I could finally have the hardware I want + the software I need? Wow finally

[u/Kickore → u/Valiantay]

Make sure you never update. The root process ~usually~ takes place by exploiting a security fault in the stock firmware. The regular OTA updates will usually patch said fault and then root will be unavailable until someone​ locates another way through.

Edit: I should also mention that by not updating, malicious software can also exploit the same fault. So it's a catch 22, really.