Most tech-savvy readers know that Android is based upon Linux, and even uses a modified Linux kernel. What may not be as well known is the rift that’s existed between Linux developers and Android developers — and how hard it’s been to cross.

With version 3.3 of the kernel, a lot of those fences have been mended. Some Android code has finally made it into the Linux kernel!

According to the official release notes for V3.3:

“For a long time, code from the Android project has not been merged back to the Linux repositories due to disagreement between developers from both projects. Fortunately, after several years the differences are being ironed out. Various Android subsystems and features have already been merged, and more will follow in the future. This will make things easier for everybody, including the Android dev community, or Linux distributions that want to support Android programs.”

Source: Kernel Newbies

Via: XDA

Additional Reading: Bringing Android closer to the mainline