Xiaomi is rapidly becoming one of the most important Android OEMs. Currently, this Chinese company shares the podium with Samsung and Apple. Despite such popularity and numerous devices sold across the globe, Xiaomi refuses to publish the source code for their kernels, standing in clear violation to the GPL licensing.

A lack of ability to create a custom kernel certainly slows the development for their device. Luckily, the XDA developers once again proved that great things can be achieved even when OEMs try to block development. A group of developers from CancroCM Team (XDA Senior Members kD, audahadi, kairi_zeroblade, XDA Forum Member david_korku and XDA Recognized Contributor jack_eagle) have created a quite functional CyanogenMod 12 build for the Xiaomi Mi 3. Only a few things separate this ROM from being completely stable. Xiaomi Mi 3's users will have problems with the Bluetooth connectivity, NFC, camcoder and USB-OTG. If you don't use these things, this ROM is a good candidate for you.

Hopefully, Xiaomi will start to play fairly and respect GPL licensing. Projects like these show the large potential that lies in these Chinese devices. If you're using Xiaomi Mi3 and would love to see Lollipop on it, head over to the development thread to learn more.