OnePlus stops providing devices to kernel developers

It seems that OnePlus has suspended the so-called device seeding program. With this program, the manufacturer provided smartphones to developers, so that they were able to release custom ROMs fairly quickly.

XDA Developers shows a screenshot on which a message from probably an employee of OnePlus can be seen. He indicates that the manufacturer has decided to discontinue the program. It’s a screenshot of a post from OnePlus’ Slack group, which is intended for developers. The chat group has reportedly been closed.

The notice announcing the program’s termination does not provide a reason to stop providing developers with smartphones early. This program allowed developers to quickly develop, for example, LineageOS, the modtool TWRP or CarbonROM and make it available to users of OnePlus devices.

There is a chance that with a possible release of the OnePlus 7, as a possible successor to the OnePlus 6T, OnePlus will still leave the bootloader unlocked and also continue to provide the source code of the kernel. OnePlus is known for working well with developers in this area, partly by providing the phones and making the source code of the kernel available from the start of the release of devices.

However, the XDA Developers website reports that many developers on the forums are basically students who can’t spend hundreds of dollars every six months to buy the latest OnePlus phone. OnePlus’ decision may therefore lead to a delay or reduction in the number of custom ROMs. Also, bugs and vulnerabilities may be noticed less quickly; for example, a developer previously discovered a vulnerability in the bootloader of the OnePlus 6, which was quickly fixed.