Google is preparing to let you run Linux apps on Android, just like Chrome OS
Google is preparing to let you run Linux apps on Android, just like Chrome OS
Google is developing a Terminal app for Android that'll let you run Linux apps. It'll download and run Debian in a VM for you.
I just need sudo and a package manager
The promise of the smart phone was a mini computer in your pocket. I think we got it, but then the vendor locked the user out of admin on their own bought and paid hardware 🤷♂️
Try Termux, it's great.
While it doesn't get you sudo, it does get you a package manager and a decent amount of programs.
I use it and rclone to sync my cell phone's photos to a S3 bucket.
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Terminal applications only? Or does that make me able to run LibreOffice, Kdenlive and whatever I like?
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Thx. I have limited use for it then. I tend to carry my laptop anyways and just whip it out once I need to type in long terminal commands with pipe symbols, extra characters and press Ctrl-C. I don't think my phone has an adequate form factor for terminal tasks. Though, I occasionally use it to ssh into machines and do some quick fix. But I already have an app for that.
Let's me repurpose an old phone for some headless container funtimes. If I can infect it with NixOS I'll be golden.
Terminal applications only?
As a first step definitively, simply because such a feature needs to start somewhere and text mode is easier than writing a wrapper for graphics systems.
Or does that make me able to run LibreOffice, Kdenlive and whatever I like?
I'm thinking that this is the end goal. Google struggles to get desktop-like apps onto Android tablets. Many people use iPads as primary work computer these days. My employer is switching to them and we're late to the party.
An audacious step for Google would be to distribute Flatpaks in the Play Store. That's very unlikely but it's technically a possibility.
Also, Steam integrating an x86 emulator for ARM devices makes even more sense now. I thought it's mainly for ARM Chromebooks but Android tablets getting an "Install Steam" button and becoming more compatible to games than Windows on ARM would be so bonkers.
Okay. I mean I already have Termux for that. And I don't think a phone or tablet is a good device to operate the terminal or type in VI key bindings. They're much more made for graphical applications and touching buttons and graphical elements. Let's see where this is going. I still like using computers and having like 105 proper keys accessible for my fingers. Especially if my mode of interacting with the device is typing in text. And not clicking on things. But I get that nowadays lots of people use tablets and phones and stuff. And this certainly is a necessary first step.
Nice, so I'll have a workaround if Termux is too crippled by Android's restriction.
I need yt-dlp in my pocket 😬
Oh boy you're gonna love Seal https://github.com/JunkFood02/Seal
Why not NewPipe?
More flexible, and works on a lot of websites.
Oh boy you're gonna love YTDLnis https://github.com/deniscerri/ytdlnis
They run like shit on ChromeOS, so Google can shove it where the sun don't shine.
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I prefer the other way around. A decent android emulator for Linux.