Idea for Compiling the Froyo kernel for Incredible

Recently read this article: Connect USB devices to your Nexus One, and also this one.

This made me think about past experience compiling Linux kernels. I have compiled kernels on systems and have had the system more or less work, with some problems; such as changes in paradigm, like /proc directory being added, etc. In most cases I have not had any trouble with binary compatibility.

Theoretically, we should be able to compile the kernel by itself and run it with “fastboot”. In theory the kernel and modules should run fine. What might fail is if any incidental software has taken advantage of features that were specific to the HTC kernel.

Why bother? Because the USB Patch works on a stock Froyo kernel. So the question is, can you run a stock Froyo kernel with the HTC software?

From the 2nd article above:

This will be my first time modifying a kernel on an Android device. Fastboot sounds like it would be helpful here, but last I checked the Incredible doesn't have fastboot.

It sure seems to have it. When I boot up to the “HBOOT” menu, FASTBOOT is the first option. I don’t know much about it but I think it might work.