debugging - How to debug android framework services?

Question

Is it possible to debug the android framework's system services?

I have come across these links, but wasn't successful enough to debug the system services.

http://android.opensourceror.org/2010/01/18/android-source/

Answer 1

I found and tested some working instructions for Android Studio here:

I choose API 17 because it doesn't have emulator rotate bug.

important steps:
0) make sure your android studio has downloaded sdk 17 with sources.
1) create any simple android project. make target sdk 17. min sdk 17 and compile with 17. build tools version doesn't matter. (File-> Project Structure-> app under Modules -> Flavor)
2) create emulator instance with api 17
3) open ddms, highlight system_process, that is it. (Tools -> Android - > Android Device Monitor)
4) for the simple project, config debug profiles: remote 8700, Run->Edit Configurations -> + -> Remote -> port 8700
5) from the simple project. launch debug with the profile. (now you will notice ddms's system_process has an special bug icon)
6) open file $(Android_Studio)/sdk/sources/android-17/com/android/server/am/ActivityStack.java in android studio, and then set a breakpoint at: realStartActivityLocked(…) func
7) IMPORTANT STEP: in android studio, from bottom pane, select Debugger -> Threads, WAIT threads are populated. because it means studio is connected with ddms now.
8) from emulator, launch any app/ or your simple app.
9) breakpoint will be intercepted, if not try restart the app in emulator again.

two refs:
http://apienthusiast.blogspot.com/2014/06/debugging-android-java-framework.html
http://source.android.com/source/using-eclipse.html
http://jmlinnik.blogspot.kr/2011/12/debug-built-in-applications-in-eclipse.html
https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/android-system-level-javac-code-debugging

http://apienthusiast.blogspot.ca/2014/07/debugging-android-native-applications.html