island

Island for Android

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Quick Overview

Island is an Android app that creates a secure, isolated environment for running other apps. It allows users to clone and run apps in a separate, controlled space, enhancing privacy and security. Island can be used for work profiles, app management, and data isolation.

Pros

Enhances privacy and security by isolating apps and their data
Allows running multiple instances of the same app
Supports creating work profiles for better separation of personal and professional use
Provides fine-grained control over app permissions and data access

Cons

May have compatibility issues with some apps or devices
Requires some technical knowledge to set up and use effectively
Can potentially impact battery life and performance due to running multiple app instances
Limited documentation and support compared to more mainstream solutions

Getting Started

To get started with Island:

Install the Island app from the Google Play Store or F-Droid.
Open the app and follow the setup wizard to create a new Island (isolated space).
Use the Island app to clone and manage apps within the isolated environment.
To clone an app, select it from the list of installed apps and tap the "Clone to Island" button.
Access cloned apps from the Island space or through shortcuts on your home screen.

Note: Some features may require root access or additional setup steps, depending on your device and Android version.

Competitor Comparisons

Shizuku

10,677

Using system APIs directly with adb/root privileges from normal apps through a Java process started with app_process.

Pros of Shizuku

Provides a more flexible and powerful approach to system-level operations
Supports a wider range of Android versions and devices
Offers better performance for certain operations due to its direct system access

Cons of Shizuku

Requires more complex setup and configuration
May have a steeper learning curve for developers
Potentially higher security risk due to elevated privileges

Code Comparison

Island:

public class IslandManager {
    public void createProfile() {
        // Create a new isolated profile
    }
}

Shizuku:

public class ShizukuManager {
    public void executeCommand(String command) {
        // Execute system command with elevated privileges
    }
}

Both projects aim to enhance Android functionality and privacy, but they take different approaches. Island focuses on creating isolated environments for apps, while Shizuku provides a more general-purpose tool for system-level operations. Island may be easier to use for basic app isolation, while Shizuku offers more flexibility and power for advanced users and developers. The choice between the two depends on the specific use case and the level of control required over the Android system.

Magisk

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The Magic Mask for Android

Pros of Magisk

Provides root access and system-level modifications
Supports a wide range of modules for customization
Offers more advanced features for power users

Cons of Magisk

Requires unlocking the bootloader, which may void warranty
Higher risk of security vulnerabilities due to root access
More complex setup and usage compared to Island

Code Comparison

Magisk (C++):

static int magisk_main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    if (argc > 1 && strcmp(argv[1], "-c") == 0) {
        printf(MAGISK_VERSION ":MAGISK\n");
        return 0;
    }
    // ...
}

Island (Java):

public class IslandManager {
    public void createIsland(String name) {
        // Create a new isolated space
    }
    // ...
}

While both projects aim to enhance Android functionality, they serve different purposes. Magisk focuses on system-level modifications and root access, while Island provides app isolation and privacy features without requiring root. Magisk offers more powerful customization options but comes with higher risks and complexity. Island, on the other hand, provides a safer and more user-friendly approach to app management and privacy protection.

LSPosed

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LSPosed Framework

Pros of LSPosed

More comprehensive system-level modifications and customizations
Supports a wider range of Android versions and devices
Active development with frequent updates and community support

Cons of LSPosed

Requires root access, which may void device warranty
Higher risk of system instability if not used carefully
Steeper learning curve for users unfamiliar with Xposed framework

Code Comparison

LSPosed (Xposed module example):

@XposedHook(targets = XC_MethodHook.class)
public class ExampleHook {
    public void handleLoadPackage(XC_LoadPackage.LoadPackageParam lpparam) throws Throwable {
        XposedHelpers.findAndHookMethod("com.example.app.MainActivity", lpparam.classLoader,
            "onCreate", Bundle.class, new XC_MethodHook() {
                @Override
                protected void beforeHookedMethod(MethodHookParam param) throws Throwable {
                    // Modify behavior before method execution
                }
            });
    }
}

Island (App cloning example):

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
intent.setComponent(new ComponentName(getPackageName(), "com.oasisfeng.island.MainActivity"));
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(intent);

While both projects aim to enhance Android functionality, LSPosed offers more advanced system-level modifications through the Xposed framework, whereas Island focuses on app isolation and management without requiring root access. LSPosed provides greater customization potential but comes with higher risks and complexity, while Island offers a more user-friendly approach to app management and privacy protection.

scrcpy

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Pros of scrcpy

Provides real-time screen mirroring and control of Android devices on a computer
Supports high-quality video streaming with low latency
Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Cons of scrcpy

Requires a physical connection or ADB over network
Limited to screen mirroring and control, without advanced app management features
May have compatibility issues with some Android devices or custom ROMs

Code Comparison

scrcpy (C):

static void screen_init_render(struct screen *screen)
{
    SDL_RendererInfo renderer_info;
    if (SDL_GetRendererInfo(screen->renderer, &renderer_info)) {
        LOGW("Could not get renderer info");
        return;
    }
}

Island (Java):

@Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
    if (savedInstanceState == null)
        getFragmentManager().beginTransaction().add(android.R.id.content, new MainFragment()).commit();
}

While scrcpy focuses on screen mirroring and control, Island is designed for app management and isolation on Android devices. scrcpy offers real-time interaction with Android devices from a computer, while Island provides a sandboxed environment for running multiple instances of apps on a single device. The code snippets reflect their different purposes, with scrcpy handling rendering and Island managing app lifecycles.

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README

Island

Island for Android

Build Instructions

Island depends on "deagle" library, which must be cloned alongside Island in the same path.

\--
  \- island
  \- deagle

This project is constructed into several modules, with assembly module as the build portal, to support separate "light" build for core modules, in the form of "product flavor" in Gradle build configuration.

The "engine" module shares the same package name with the "complete" build, to inherit the profile/device owner privilege. The "mobile" and other modules can be installed and updated separately alongside "engine" module for development convenience.

Open API

Due to the exclusivity nature, user could only use one Android DPC app at a time, and price of switching DPC is far too heavy. To encourage active exploration and broader development in the capabilities of DPC and therefore better benefit users, Island is devoted to build an open collaboration for community developers, either in development of this project or opening DPC capabilities to 3rd-party apps via open API. Island itself will not focus on the rich set of features, but mainly focuses on building a powerful engine as an open platform for much more apps from the community.

Starting from the first public version of Island, all APIs are open to 3rd-party apps with the standard runtime-permission of Android as user authorization. Developers can start building apps now to take advantage of the Island open APIs.

The protocol of all APIs are well defined and maintained in the class "Api".

Contribution

If you found bugs, made minor improvements or translated the strings, please feel free to send us pull-requests.

If you are interested in improving the functionality of Island, please create an issue first to discuss your thoughts with us, we are open to collaboration in future development.

If you need new APIs for your apps to take advantage of the DPC capabilities, please feel free to create an issue to describe your app and its use case of those APIs. We are still in the early stage of building a rich set of open APIs.

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