• Google is set to cut hundreds of new jobs in its device and platforms divisions soon.
  • The company has continued to cut its Google Pixel teams, doing so earlier this year as well.
  • Rival Microsoft is considering a new round of layoffs next month, per reports.
  • einlander@lemmy.worldEnglish
    204·
    7 months ago

    Why would they need more staff if they plan on developing it in a closed source manner now?

    • BlackEco@lemmy.blackeco.comEnglish
      461·
      7 months ago

      Android has always been developed in a closed-source manner by Google engineers, the recent changes only reduces the visibility of ongoing changes and the ability for developers outside of OEMs to contribute to Android (such contributions were already rare).

      This is explained further in this article:

      While some OS components, such as Android’s Bluetooth stack, are developed publicly in the AOSP branch, most components, including the core Android OS framework, are developed privately within Google’s internal branch. Google confirmed to Android Authority that it will soon shift all Android OS development to its internal branch, a change intended to streamline its development process.

        • steal_your_face@lemmy.mlEnglish
          3·
          7 months ago

          No one really scrutinized it while it was in development anyways. For example graphene os always looked at and made changes to the aosp releases.