Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL; DR
- Google will make EROFS the default read-only file system in Android 13.
- The file system was originally created by Huawei.
- Only devices launched with Android 13 and Google’s services will switch
Google is making an interesting – and potentially controversial – decision with Android 13, setting up a file system created by Huawei.
According to Asper, Google plans to include enhanced read-only file system (EROFS) in Android 13, making it the default read-only system. The file system was created by Jiang Gao while he was working as an engineer at Huawei. EROFS offers significant advantages over existing file systems, including space-saving compression and speed. It can be updated much faster and uses less storage space.
Huawei has created EROFS for inclusion in the Linux kernel, which forms the basis of Android. Despite being finally locked out of the Android ecosystem by the US-led ban, the file system officially became part of the Linux kernel, starting with Linux 5.4. It has also been used on millions of Huawei devices and other manufacturers are adopting it.
Read more: Huawei has explained the ban
Google now plans to make it the default file system for read-only partitions, such as partitions used by native Android systems. Since the system partition is usually readable, it is an interesting option to save space in compressed files that only change when a system update is performed. Unfortunately, most compression systems have significant performance hits, a limitation that EROFS specifically addresses.
Leaving Google’s weight behind EROFS does not mean that all devices will use it automatically. The change will only affect devices launched with Android 13 by default, and will only affect those that have Google’s built-in service. This means that devices running AOSP (Android Open Source Project) will not use EROFS.
