Inconvenienced when using Contact Content Provider on Android

These days, I've been developing an application that reads and writes entries from/into Android Contacts.
Everything goes fine until I need to insert email entry into Android Contact by Contact Content Provider API.

This is how to insert a people or phone entry into contact (people, phones table):
getContentProvider().insert(People.CONTENT_URI, values);
getContentProvider().insert(Phones.CONTENT_URI, values);

That's fine according to
http://code.google.com/android/devel/data/contentproviders.html

However when I insert an email entry into contact (in contact_methods table) using:
ContentURI uri = getContentProvider().insert(ContactMethods.CONTENT_URI, values);

It just returns null, nothing inserted, and nothing shows up on logcat.
Why? the link above says it should be fine!
To find the answer, I post a thread in Google Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/browse_thread/thread/9ed4ff7fc1338b7c
However no response.
then I have been diving into build-in Contacts Application for 2 days to find how Google used their own api.
Luckily, I got the key.
see details on my another post:
http://zeaster.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-decompile-dex-file-on-android_28.html

You should insert an email like this:
ContentURI uri = People.CONTENT_URI.addId(user_id).addPath("contact_methods");
ContentValues values = ...
uri = getContentResolver().insert(uri, values);

why? I guess Google should provide one same way to insert content.

That's the main inconvenience.
I guess what's even worse is Google does not provide enough docs or log warnings for this tip.
Here are the others:

2.
when insert an email for a not-created-yet user id, It's still inserted successfully.
when the user id created in the future, the user would have the email address.
I guess Google should prevent this happen.
Actually many checks Google need to do.That's really a beta SDK.

3.
The content provider API is not Object-Oriented enough.
I feel it tedious to use.

4.
Maybe this is greedy.
I hope there is API to manipulate database that's similar to ActiveRecord for Rails.
Maybe I will implement one like that if time permits.

How to decompile .dex file on Android

Lucky to see the Google Android build-in Contacts is also developed by Android SDK.
This article will take it for example and discuss these How-To's:

1 How to find the Contacts App file on Google Android
2 How to find the Contacts App's classes.dex on Google Android
3 How to dump the Contacts App's classes
4 How to decompile the dumped file

{
Actually, I think the Contacts Content Provider that Google provides has some inconvenience to use.
And I will post another blog to list what's inconvenience and request some improvement from Google.
The blog link is here:
http://zeaster.blogspot.com/2007/11/inconvenienced-when-using-contact.html
}

1 How to find the Contacts App on Google Android
Using adb tool

$ adb shell
# cd /system/app
cd /system/app
# ls
ls
-rw-r--r-- root root 25519 2007-11-14 20:40 ContactsProvider.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 7544 2007-11-14 20:40 GoogleAppsProvider.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 16198 2007-11-14 20:40 ImProvider.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 20308 2007-11-14 20:40 MediaProvider.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 21272 2007-11-14 20:40 TelephonyProvider.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 11809 2007-11-14 20:40 SettingsProvider.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 418688 2007-11-14 20:41 Browser.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 68077 2007-11-14 20:41 Contacts.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 96287 2007-11-14 20:41 Development.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 44790 2007-11-14 20:41 GoogleApps.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 8637 2007-11-14 20:41 Fallback.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 99431 2007-11-14 20:41 Home.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 171614 2007-11-14 20:41 Maps.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 424601 2007-11-14 20:41 Phone.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 192119 2007-11-14 20:41 XmppService.apk
-rw-r--r-- root root 6614 2007-11-14 20:41 XmppSettings.apk
#

The Contacts.apk is the Contacts App and ContactsProvider.apk is the app that provides the Contact Content Provider for reading and writing "content://contacts/" resources.
we can see many system apps developed by Android Java SDK are put here.
However what is inside *.apk file. Actually it is a .zip file. It is easy to unzip and get the answer.
take Contacts.apk for example, it contains:

META-INF\
res\
AndroidManifest.xml
classes.dex
resources.arsc

The classes.dex file contains all compiled Java code.

2 How to find the Contacts App's classes.dex on Google Android
No need to unzip Contacts App's classes.dex file from Contacts.apk file.
The Dalvik VM has a cached file for us. Go head to find it.

$ adb shell
# cd /data/dalvik-cache
cd /data/dalvik-cache
# ls
ls
-rw-rw-rw- root root 73852 2007-11-27 05:16 system@app@Contacts.apk@classes.dex
-rw-rw-rw- app_0 app_0 64172 2007-11-27 05:17 system@app@ContactsProvider.apk@classes.dex
-rw-rw-rw- root root 15204 2007-11-27 05:17 system@framework@am.jar@classes.dex
-rw-rw-rw- app_3 app_3 3012 2007-11-27 07:33 system@app@Fallback.apk@classes.dex
-rw-rw-rw- root root 7252804 2007-11-27 05:16 system@framework@core.jar@classes.dex
....and many other cached files.

3 How to dump the Contacts App's classes
Unfortunately the classes.dex is not a .jar file. It's Dalvik executable format that is optimized for efficient.
so we can not pull the .class files as .jar format. However Google Android provides a tool named dexdump included in the emulator to dump .dex file. Here is how to use it.
# dexdump
dexdump: no file specified
dexdump: [-f] [-h] dexfile...

-d : disassemble code sections
-f : display summary information from file header
-h : display file header details
-C : decode (demangle) low-level symbol names
-S : compute sizes only

Now we dump the system@app@Contacts.apk@classes.dex and system@app@ContactsProvider.apk@classes.dex.

# dexdump -d -f -h -C system@app@Contacts.apk@classes.dex >> Contacts.apk.dump
# dexdump -d -f -h -C system@app@ContactsProvider.apk@classes.dex >> ContactsProvider.apk.dump

and then pull it out.
# exit
$ adb pull /data/dalvik-cache/Contacts.apk.dump ~/android
$ adb pull /data/dalvik-cache/ContactsProvider.apk.dump ~/android

Now we get the dumped files on ~/android folder.

4 How to decompile the dumped file
.dex file is optimized, so we can not decompile it as normal .class file.
Fortunately the dumped file is a bit readable for me.
As it is too big to analyze all the code, so I just take "how to create a contact" for example.
It's easy to get this info from the dumped file.
It has these classes:
...
Class name : 'com/google/android/contacts/AttachImage'
Class name : 'com/google/android/contacts/ContactEntryAdapter'
Class name : 'com/google/android/contacts/EditContactActivity'
Class name : 'com/google/android/contacts/EditContactActivity$EditEntry'
...

The EditContactActivity class has a private void create() method.
#3 : (in com/google/android/contacts/EditContactActivity)
name : 'create'
type : '()V'
access : 0x0002 (PRIVATE)

So all the code that create a contact is here from the dumped file, my comments inlined:
// private void create()
009b24: |[009b24] com/google/android/contacts/EditContactActivity.create:()V

// ContentValues v9 = new ContentValues();
009b28: 2109 3100 |0000: new-instance v9, android/content/ContentValues // class@0031
009b2c: 6f01 0f00 0900 |0002: invoke-direct {v9}, android/content/ContentValues.:()V // method@000f

// Entry v12 = this.getCurrentEntry();
009b32: f4fc a800 |0005: +iget-object-quick v12, v15, [obj+00a8]

// int v11 = v12.lines
009b36: f801 1500 0c00 |0007: +invoke-virtual-quick {v12}, [0015] // vtable #0015
009b3c: 0a0b |000a: move-result v11

// int v5 = 0
009b3e: 1205 |000b: const/4 v5, #int 0 // #0

// if v5 >= v11 goto 0046
009b40: 3ab5 3a00 |000c: if-ge v5, v11, 0046 // +003a

// EditEntry v8 = (EditEntry)this.getCurrentEntry();
009b44: f4fc a800 |000e: +iget-object-quick v12, v15, [obj+00a8]
009b48: f802 1a00 5c00 |0010: +invoke-virtual-quick {v12, v5}, [001a] // vtable #001a
009b4e: 0c0c |0013: move-result-object v12
009b50: 07c0 |0014: move-object v0, v12
009b52: 1e00 3d00 |0015: check-cast v0, com/google/android/contacts/EditContactActivity$EditEntry // class@003d
009b56: 0708 |0017: move-object v8, v0

// int v12 = v8.kind // The Instance field kind is defined in its superclass Entry. see details in dumped Entry and EditEntry sections.
009b58: f28c 1400 |0018: +iget-quick v12, v8, [obj+0014]

// int v13 = -3 // PHOTO_KIND = -3 defined in v8's superclass Entry
009b5c: 12dd |001a: const/4 v13, #int -3 // #fd

// if v12 != v13 goto 0020 // a photo entry, goto 0020
009b5e: 38dc 0500 |001b: if-ne v12, v13, 0020 // +0005

// int v5++;
009b62: d805 0501 |001d: add-int/lit8 v5, v5, #int 1 // #01

// goto 000c
009b66: 33ed |001f: goto 000c // -0013

// String v7 = v8.getData();
009b68: f801 0c00 0800 |0020: +invoke-virtual-quick {v8}, [000c] // vtable #000c
009b6e: 0c07 |0023: move-result-object v7

// boolean v12 = TextUtils.isEmpty(v7)
009b70: 7001 4200 0700 |0024: invoke-static {v7}, android/text/TextUtils.isEmpty:(Ljava/lang/CharSequence;)Z // method@0042
009b76: 0a0c |0027: move-result v12

if v12!=false/0 goto 0030
009b78: 3e0c 0800 |0028: if-nez v12, 0030 // +0008

// String v12 = v8.column // The Instance field column is defined in EditEntry. see details in dumped EditEntry section.
009b7c: f48c 2800 |002a: +iget-object-quick v12, v8, [obj+0028]

// v9.put(v12,v7) // v9 is a ContentValues, v12 is the column name, v7 is the value.
009b80: f803 0b00 c907 |002c: +invoke-virtual-quick {v9, v12, v7}, [000b] // vtable #000b

// goto 001d
009b86: 33ee |002f: goto 001d // -0012

// String v12 = v8.column // The Instance field column is defined in EditEntry. see details in dumped EditEntry section.
009b88: f48c 2800 |0030: +iget-object-quick v12, v8, [obj+0028]

// String v13 = "name";
009b8c: 180d 1c00 |0032: const-string v13, "name" // string@001c

// boolean v12 = v12.equals(v13);
009b90: ee02 0300 dc00 |0034: +execute-inline {v12, v13}, java/lang/String.equals:(Ljava/lang/Object;)Z // inline #0003
009b96: 0a0c |0037: move-result v12

// if v12 != false/0, goto 001d
009b98: 3d0c e5ff |0038: if-eqz v12, 001d // -001b

// String v12 = "EditContactActivity"
009b9c: 180c 0100 |003a: const-string v12, "EditContactActivity" // string@0001

// String v13 = "Name is required"
009ba0: 180d 0200 |003c: const-string v13, "Name is required" // string@0002

// Log.e(v12, v13); //log info using android/util/Log
009ba4: 7002 4700 dc00 |003e: invoke-static {v12, v13}, android/util/Log.e:(Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)I // method@0047
009baa: 0a0c |0041: move-result v12

// call this.XXX()
009bac: f801 8400 0f00 |0042: +invoke-virtual-quick {v15}, [0084] // vtable #0084

// return void
009bb2: 0e00 |0045: return-void

// ContentResolver v12 = this.getContentResolver();
009bb4: f4fc a400 |0046: +iget-object-quick v12, v15, [obj+00a4]

// CONTENT_URI v13 = People.CONTENT_URI;
009bb8: 610d 0300 |0048: sget-object v13, android/provider/Contacts$People.CONTENT_URI:Landroid/net/ContentURI; // field@0003

// CONTENT_URI v10 = v12.insert(v13, v9) // CONTENT_URI v10 = getContentResolver().insert(uri, values);
// insert people into contacts
009bbc: f803 1100 dc09 |004a: +invoke-virtual-quick {v12, v13, v9}, [0011] // vtable #0011
009bc2: 0c0a |004d: move-result-object v10

// List v12 = this.mContactEntries
009bc4: f4fc c000 |004e: +iget-object-quick v12, v15, [obj+00c0]
009bc8: 7001 8900 0c00 |0050: invoke-static {v12}, com/google/android/contacts/ContactEntryAdapter.countEntries:(Ljava/util/ArrayList;)I // method@0089
009bce: 0a06 |0053: move-result v6

// int v5 = v11 //contact Entry Count
009bd0: 01b5 |0054: move v5, v11

// if v5 >= v6, goto 009e
009bd2: 3a65 4900 |0055: if-ge v5, v6, 009e // +0049

// List v12 = this.mContactEntries
009bd6: f4fc c000 |0057: +iget-object-quick v12, v15, [obj+00c0]

// EditEntry v8 = (EditEntry) getEntry(v12, v5);
009bda: 7002 8b00 5c00 |0059: invoke-static {v12, v5}, com/google/android/contacts/ContactEntryAdapter.getEntry:(Ljava/util/ArrayList;I)Lcom/google/android/contacts/ContactEntryAdapter$Entry; // method@008b
009be0: 0c0c |005c: move-result-object v12
009be2: 07c0 |005d: move-object v0, v12
009be4: 1e00 3d00 |005e: check-cast v0, com/google/android/contacts/EditContactActivity$EditEntry // class@003d
009be8: 0708 |0060: move-object v8, v0

// int v12 = v8.kind // The Instance field kind is defined in its superclass Entry. see details in dumped Entry and EditEntry sections.
009bea: f28c 1400 |0061: +iget-quick v12, v8, [obj+0014]

// int v13 = -1 // CONTACT_KIND = -1 defined in v8's superclass Entry
009bee: 12fd |0063: const/4 v13, #int -1 // #ff

// if v12 == v13 goto 007e
009bf0: 37dc 1a00 |0064: if-eq v12, v13, 007e // +001a

// v9.clear() // ContentValues.clear()
009bf4: f801 1500 0900 |0066: +invoke-virtual-quick {v9}, [0015] // vtable #0015

// boolean v12 = v8.toValues(v9) // boolean EditEnty.toValues(ContentValues cv)
009bfa: f802 0d00 9800 |0069: +invoke-virtual-quick {v8, v9}, [000d] // vtable #000d
009c00: 0a0c |006c: move-result v12

//if v12 !=false/0, goto 007b
009c02: 3d0c 0e00 |006d: if-eqz v12, 007b // +000e

// ContentResolver v12 = this.getContentResolver();
009c06: f4fc a400 |006f: +iget-object-quick v12, v15, [obj+00a4]

// String v13 = v8.contentDirectory
009c0a: f48d 2c00 |0071: +iget-object-quick v13, v8, [obj+002c]

// v10.addPath(v13);
009c0e: f802 1800 da00 |0073: +invoke-virtual-quick {v10, v13}, [0018] // vtable #0018
009c14: 0c0d |0076: move-result-object v13

// CONTENT_URI v12 = v12.insert(v13, v9) // CONTENT_URI v12 = getContentResolver().insert(uri, values);
009c16: f803 1100 dc09 |0077: +invoke-virtual-quick {v12, v13, v9}, [0011] // vtable #0011
009c1c: 0c0c |007a: move-result-object v12

// int v5++;
009c1e: d805 0501 |007b: add-int/lit8 v5, v5, #int 1 // #01

// goto 0055
009c22: 33d8 |007d: goto 0055 // -0028

// String v7 = v8.getData();
009c24: f801 0c00 0800 |007e: +invoke-virtual-quick {v8}, [000c] // vtable #000c
009c2a: 0c07 |0081: move-result-object v7

// v9.lines
009c2c: f801 1500 0900 |0082: +invoke-virtual-quick {v9}, [0015] // vtable #0015

// boolean v12 = TextUtils.isEmpty(v7)
009c32: 7001 4200 0700 |0085: invoke-static {v7}, android/text/TextUtils.isEmpty:(Ljava/lang/CharSequence;)Z // method@0042
009c38: 0a0c |0088: move-result v12

if v12!=false/0 goto 007b
009c3a: 3e0c f2ff |0089: if-nez v12, 007b // -000e

// String v12 = v8.column // The Instance field column is defined in EditEntry. see details in dumped EditEntry section.
009c3e: f48c 2800 |008b: +iget-object-quick v12, v8, [obj+0028]

// v9.put(v12,v7) // v9 is a ContentValues, v12 is the column name, v7 is the value.
009c42: f803 0b00 c907 |008d: +invoke-virtual-quick {v9, v12, v7}, [000b] // vtable #000b

// ContentResolver v12 = this.getContentResolver();
009c48: f4fc a400 |0090: +iget-object-quick v12, v15, [obj+00a4]

// int v13 = 0
009c4c: 120d |0092: const/4 v13, #int 0 // #0

// int v14 = 0
009c4e: 120e |0093: const/4 v14, #int 0 // #0

009c50: 07c0 |0094: move-object v0, v12
009c52: 07a1 |0095: move-object v1, v10
009c54: 0792 |0096: move-object v2, v9
009c56: 07d3 |0097: move-object v3, v13
009c58: 07e4 |0098: move-object v4, v14

// int v12 = v12.update(v1,v2,v3,v4) // getContentResolver(),update(uri, values, null, null)
// refer to this method, public final int update(ContentURI uri, ContentValues values, String where, String[] selectionArgs)
009c5a: f905 1400 0000 |0099: +invoke-virtual-quick/range {v0, v1, v2, v3, v4}, [0014] // vtable #0014
009c60: 0a0c |009c: move-result v12

// goto 007b
009c62: 33de |009d: goto 007b // -0022

// int v12 = 4
009c64: 124c |009e: const/4 v12, #int 4 // #4

009c66: f5fc c800 |009f: +iput-quick v12, v15, [obj+00c8]
009c6a: f7fa 9000 |00a1: +iput-object-quick v10, v15, [obj+0090]

// int v12 = -1
009c6e: 12fc |00a3: const/4 v12, #int -1 // #ff
009c70: f801 0700 0a00 |00a4: +invoke-virtual-quick {v10}, [0007] // vtable #0007
009c76: 0c0d |00a7: move-result-object v13
009c78: f803 7f00 cf0d |00a8: +invoke-virtual-quick {v15, v12, v13}, [007f] // vtable #007f

// goto 0045
009c7e: 339a |00ab: goto 0045 // -0066
exceptions : (none)
positions : 30
0x0000 line=471
.....
0x00a3 line=515
locals : 10
//the 10 local variables defined here
0x0000 - 0x00ac reg=15 this Lcom/google/android/contacts/EditContactActivity;
0x0002 - 0x00ac reg=9 values Landroid/content/ContentValues;
0x000b - 0x00ac reg=11 contactEntryCount I
0x000c - 0x00ac reg=5 i I
0x0018 - 0x0045 reg=8 entry Lcom/google/android/contacts/EditContactActivity$EditEntry;
0x0024 - 0x0045 reg=7 data Ljava/lang/String;
0x004e - 0x00ac reg=10 contactUri Landroid/net/ContentURI;
0x0054 - 0x00ac reg=6 entryCount I
0x0061 - 0x009e reg=8 entry Lcom/google/android/contacts/EditContactActivity$EditEntry;
0x0082 - 0x009e reg=7 data Ljava/lang/String;