Status of Project Mainline modules

zirg072

Does GrapheneOS pass the safety center test mentioned here by Mishaal Rahman?

In other words, does GrapheneOS push all security and feature updates of Mainline modules in time?

unwat

GrapheneOS is always on the ball about installing all updates/patches as they're available. Take a look at the release notes. For example, take a look at https://grapheneos.org/releases#2023010300 where it says:

full 2023-01-01 security patch level

full 2023-01-05 security patch level

GrapheneOS is also one of the first to upgrade major OS releases.

Phones running GrapheneOS cannot get Google Play System Updates since Google Play doesn't have the required access to update anything. Tbh, I don't know how much that matters, but I can't imagine it's that big of a deal since we're up to date otherwise.

zirg072

unwat

My intention was not to take anything away from the achievements of GrapheneOS.

Coming back to the question, only security updates for Mainline modules are documented in ASB while features updates aren't documented anywhere. So, if a new feature is rolling out via a Google Play System Update, then chances are GrapheneOS users aren't getting those. This is just Google being notorious.

There is, however, a way suggested by Mishaal Rahman to get feature updates too:

Somewhat recently, though, Google started publishing AOSP tags for each Mainline module release after the completion of a GPSU rollout. [By maintaining a changelog between tags,] It's possible for custom ROMs to compile those separately and then include them as prebuilts into their own projects.

Is it unreasonable to request for the same features that GMS Android users are getting?

MetropleX

When it comes to mainline features, they are usually from my understanding delivered via an APEX mainline module update,

These come with each OS revision for us.

@muhomorr helped clarify:

Updates of APEX modules happen only with OS updates on GrapheneOS

The lead dev states:

[...] mainline APEX updates. GrapheneOS could be building and incorporating those but it would be a substantial amount of work and we don't currently do it. Instead we get those features in new major releases.

Source: https://nitter.net/GrapheneOS/status/1553656229687336960#m

zirg072

MetropleX

By major release, I assume they meant Android versions like 12, 13, etc., right? So, mainline feature updates of Android 13 will be received in Android 14?

GrapheneOS could be building and incorporating those but it would be a substantial amount of work and we don't currently do it.

GPSU occur monthly while Android versions change yearly. I do understand why it may not viable to push mainline feature updates every month. But isn't it possible to incorporate a quarterly release system instead of pushing them in major releases only.