rom flashing - What do all these letters/numbers in ROM file name mean?

The first 5 letters/numbers for the model of the device, but what after that? is there any guide to understand what exactly they mean by these letters? And why sometimes they repeat the model of the device twice?! and sometimes not!

Answer

These 2 firmware names are a good demonstration of (early) Samsung naming conventions.

• I8160XXLL2 is the "PDA" designator, i.e. build number;


• I8160QXXLL3 is the "CSC" designator, i.e. baseband version.

There can be multiple CSCs corresponding to a single PDA, released for different regions.

Inside the string:

• I8160 is, obviously the model number;


• XX is for country/region (XX itself means Europe or international);



• LL2 are the release date and version (within same month): first L for year (L for 2012, M for 2013, etc.), second L for month (A for January, L for December, etc.), and 2 for the 2nd version.

Furthermore, you can pinpoint which exact region the firmware is for by using a part of the CSC: QXX/QXE designates the precise region within the one defined in PDA. Match these 3 digits with a list of firmwares (e.g. on SamMobile), and you will know what regions received such releases.