Code Search with Cross References for the Android Open Source Project

Posted by Jeff Bailey, AOSP Engineering Manager;
Ally Sillins, AOSP Program Manager; Kris Hildrum, Open Source Code Search Tech Lead; Jay Sachs, Kythe Tech Lead/Manager






Searching for "it's all about the code" open source on Google returns more than a million hits. Today we’re introducing a public code search tool for the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).


Link: https://cs.android.com


The Android repository is made up of a collection of git repositories which are managed together using our ‘repo’ tool. Because of this, most tools (such as github, gitweb, etc) can’t see the source code the way that it’s laid out when it’s checked out on the system. In partnership with our colleagues who run Google’s internal Code Search and Kythe, we’re pleased to present a code search tool that presents a view of all of the Android source code as you actually use it.


Here are some features you can take advantage of starting today:

• View the source code
  
  


• Navigate cross-references across the entire code base that allow you to click through one part of the source code to another
  
  


• Switch between Android’s open source branches (not all branches will have cross-reference information)
  
  


• View tool documentation on https://source.android.com/setup/contribute/code-search
  

This is the beginning of our journey, and while today not all parts of the Android code base are cross-referenced, you can expect to see this grow over time.


We hope this makes it easier to engage with the Android code base!