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Android Linux

Is Google Preparing to Let You Run Linux Apps on Android, Just like ChromeOS? (androidauthority.com) 28

Posted by EditorDavid from the smarter-phones dept.
"Google is developing a Linux terminal app for Android," reports the blog Android Authority. "The Terminal app can be enabled via developer options and will install Debian in a virtual machine.

"This app is likely intended for Chromebooks but might also be available for mobile devices, too." While there are ways to run some Linux apps on Android devices, all of those methods have some limitations and aren't officially supported by Google. Fortunately, though, Google is finally working on an official way to run Linux apps on Android... This Terminal app is part of the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) and contains a WebView that connects to a Linux virtual machine via a local IP address, allowing you to run Linux commands from the Android host...

A set of patches under the tag "ferrochrome-dev-option" was recently submitted to the Android Open Source Project that adds a new developer option called Linux terminal under Settings > System > Developer options. This new option will enable a "Linux terminal app that runs inside the VM," according to its proposed description. Toggling this option enables the Terminal app that's bundled with AVF...

Google is still working on improving the Terminal app as well as AVF before shipping this feature... What's particularly interesting about the patch that adds these settings is that it was tested on "tangorpro" and "komodo," the codenames for the Pixel Tablet and Pixel 9 Pro XL respectively. This suggests that the Terminal app won't be limited to Chromebooks like the new desktop versions of Chrome for Android.
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Is Google Preparing to Let You Run Linux Apps on Android, Just like ChromeOS? More

Is Google Preparing to Let You Run Linux Apps on Android, Just like ChromeOS?

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  • local IP address why can't it go to any IP?

  • UserLAnd (Score:3)

    by DrMrLordX ( 559371 ) on Monday October 14, 2024 @01:16AM (#64862415)

    Doesn't UserLAnd already let you do this?

  • Arn't there other terminal apps? (Score:3)

    by ctilsie242 ( 4841247 ) on Monday October 14, 2024 @01:24AM (#64862427)

    I've not been in the Android ecosystem for a while, but Android is Linux with a different userland, so terminal + busybox should be able to provide most commands if one didn't feel like tossing in bash or zsh, and for Linux apps, one could go with a Debian or Ubuntu userland, or run the Linux stuff in a Docker or LXC container, so it would have its own world, and not be able to affect anything outside of that, even with root.

    Many ways to skin this cat. Docker or another container comes to mind as the easiest. For more security and fencing off a part of the drive, KVM could be used.

    I wouldn't mind seeing AOSP have a way to have a Linux desktop when connected via USB. Similar to how the Motorola Atrix tried to do it, but something more of a generic standard. It definitely wouldn't be a heavyweight, but it would be able to run a modern DE well enough to fire up a VDI client or browse the web.

    • VM is better because Android doesn't expose a lot of the syscalls that are used in regular linux. Eg try running docker containers.

    • >I've not been in the Android ecosystem for a while, but Android is Linux with a different userland, so terminal + busybox should be able to provide most commands if one didn't feel like tossing in bash or zsh, and for Linux apps, one could go with a Debian or Ubuntu userland, or run the Linux stuff in a Docker or LXC container, so it would have its own world, and not be able to affect anything outside of that, even with root.

      This seems to be an easier more automated way to get up and running. Properly i

    • A good example is "Termux".
      You can get it, and many many other FOSS applications, from F-Froid.

  • I invite you to consider F-Droid [f-droid.org] where many FOSS applications are available. Terminal appplications are among them.

    • Weirdly, Android around version 8 or 9 USED to have an option to just turn on the terminal app, it was bundled but hidden — but they removed the option.

      These days though I just get Termux from the Play Store. It comes with just the right amount of additional functionality, and will let you easily install more.

  • Use cases - three I use on ChromeOS (Score:3, Interesting)

    by gavron ( 1300111 ) on Monday October 14, 2024 @04:07AM (#64862661)

    On my ChromeBook I do use the Linux environment ("Penguin") to run a couple of apps that aren't available on native ChromeOS.
    1. Thunderbird. This favorite email program doesn't exist for ChromeOS, is being rewritten for Android, and offers something native Android and ChromeOS email apps (including gmail) lack: Auto-BCC self on send. Chrome browser has a plugin that provides this for gmail, but it nags about paid upgrade options regularly. In short, not needed on Android.

    2. Signal-Desktop. On my Chromebook this allows me to use Signal, paired with the phone to send and receive Signal messages. Works on Linux. Works on Chromebook. Entirely unnecessary on my primary Android phone because... that's the one that runs signal. HOWEVER it would be nice if my backup Android phone allows Signal-Desktop under a Linux VM... and then I could send and receive messages via that second phone, all coming from the primary phone ID. This would be good.

    3. Wine. The security system being used is Digital Monitoring Products (DMP) and their Remotelink/Systemlink software works under wine or a Windows VM. I can use Wine on Linux so [if the video stuff works] this would be great to have native on Android. DMP does offer an android app that goes to a portal that allows *SOME* functionality (but not zone or area editing or detailed logging) but that has a monthly sub fee. It would be good to have wine run natively (in a VM) on Android.

    I'm sure there are other use cases. These are mine. None are so critical I can't keep a laptop in the travel bag to handle them as they become needed, but certainly it would be "convenient."

    Good on Goog.

  • Now, google, please, pretty please bring back a phone with a hardware keyboard!!! My god, I don't get why there is no phone with a decent keyboard to be found. I would buy one the day after it was presented.....!

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by GuB-42 ( 2483988 )

      There are phones with a hardware keyboard, the choice is limited though. There are also add-on options like cases with a builtin keyboard. You can also use a regular Bluetooth or USB keyboard.

      Maybe not the most satisfactory answer, but there are options. I find the lack of diversity in Android phones disappointing though. There are hundreds of "different" phones on the market, yet, most of them are essentially the same featureless 6 inch slab, the only difference being the camera arrangement on the back.

      • Because most of them are like iPhones. As far as I can tell from a recent shopping experience, you can between long battery life, a good camera, and performance you can pick two but nothing has all three.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by JustNiz ( 692889 )

          I don't think you can avoid the better camera any more, at least at the top end.
          All the major phone manufacturers incorrectly now think that the camera is all everyone cares about, so it's all they prioritize and differentiate on any more.
          If any manufacturer came out with a phone that had a crap camera, but had a 3.5mm jack, SD card slot and replaceable battery, my next purchase would be an automatic no-brainer.

          • A lot of phones have crap cameras. Any of the Mororola phones. The oneplus 12R and apparently even the cameras in the oneplus 12 aren't great. Samsungs have poor cameras. The only ones with decent cameras really are the pixels for Android and the iphone if you are into walled gardens.

    • This may not be exactly what you're looking for but I am finding the keyboard quite usable for accessing my Linux machines with ConnectBot. https://www.unihertz.com/produ... [unihertz.com]

  • Google and some Android phone makers have been slowly teasing/sneaking out the ability to use Android phones as desktop computers with a USB C to HDMI cable and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. With access to any FOSS software Android could turn into cheap/free desktop Linux for people who want something more powerful than ChromeOS and donâ(TM)t want to lug a laptop around.

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