this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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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.

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Engineers at Google started work on a new Terminal app for Android a couple of weeks ago. 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. Initially, you had to manually enable this Terminal app using a shell command and then configure the Linux VM yourself. However, in recent days, Google began work on integrating the Terminal app into Android as well as turning it into an all-in-one app for running a Linux distro in a VM.

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Google is still working on improving the Terminal app as well as AVF before shipping this feature. AVF already supports graphics and some input options, but it’s preparing to add support for backing up and restoring snapshots, nested virtualization, and devices with an x86_64 architecture. It’s also preparing to add some settings pages to the Terminal app, which is pretty barebones right now apart from a menu to copy the IP address and stop the existing VM instance. The settings pages will let you resize the disk, configure port forwarding, and potentially recover partitions.

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If you’re wondering why you’d want to run Linux apps on Android, then this feature is probably not for you. Google added Linux support to Chrome OS so developers with Chromebooks can run Linux apps that are useful for development. For example, Linux support on Chrome OS allows developers to run the Linux version of Android Studio, the recommended IDE for Android app development, on Chromebooks. It also lets them run Linux command line tools safely and securely in a container.

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[–] art@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I've been using Termux for years and there are a lot of nice things you can do. Also, a lot of nice tablets have good keyboards.

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Yeah but to do that one thing that you really want to do, you need root and daddy says no.

[–] GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm on GrapheneOS and step-daddy says no as well

[–] GenderNeutralBro@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

You can root Graphene if you want to, right?

[–] GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml 2 points 19 hours ago

You can root any phone if you truely want to. I just do not yet have the skillset to do it.

If you know how to do it, I'm open for it :)

[–] art@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If it's anything like Chrome OS, you have full root in the VM.

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Giving full admin privileges over device? Doubt it.

[–] art@lemmy.world 1 points 17 hours ago

I mean if you want root, just buy an unlocked phone. You can run Lineage OS on the Pixel phones just fine. Full root access. This VM system has nothing to do with that.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Honestly you don't need root. You can enable root (assuming you are already running a custom ROM) but that should not be needed.

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

But who decides what I need? For instance, I want to toggle airplane mode. Without root: not allowed.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

You can toggle air plane mode

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Incorrect. Wifi only without root.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Well then I guess my device is the exception then. I have an airplane mode toggle

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Then your device must be powered by magic, or more likely it's not a recent Android version. That the toggle is there does not mean it works: it doesn't work without root.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I'm running almost the the latest version (Android 14) and the toggle works. Why wouldn't it work? People need to be able to put there devices in airplane mode when they get on an airplane.

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

This conversation was about doing things with Termux

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Why would you want to toggle air plane mode with Termux? That's doesn't make sense.

I see your point though. I misunderstood

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

Why would you want to toggle air plane mode with Termux? That’s doesn’t make sense.

You would think of some reasons if you tried very hard. The point is that it's my device and I shouldn't have to beg permission.