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.
  • cmeu@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    5·
    5 hours ago

    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 🤷‍♂️

    • Derin@lemmy.beru.coEnglish
      4·
      2 hours ago

      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.

    • psud@aussie.zoneEnglish
      1·
      3 hours ago

      Last I looked you could pretty easily get root on many phones, just if you did you couldn’t use stuff that checks the device security

      If you want to carry two phones you could use one for banks and 2 factor authentication, and have root on the other

  • hendrik@palaver.p3x.deEnglish
    10·
    8 hours ago

    Terminal applications only? Or does that make me able to run LibreOffice, Kdenlive and whatever I like?

    • helenslunch@feddit.nlEnglish
      1·
      6 minutes ago

      It gives you a Linux VM but the only interface is the terminal. I’ve used this with a ChromeOS fork.

    • woelkchen@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      5 hours ago

      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.

      • Moonrise2473@feddit.itEnglish
        1·
        3 hours ago

        Desktop apps in a WebView using vnc on a VM on a tablet are a miserable experience that nobody wants to endure

    • helenslunch@feddit.nlEnglish
      1·
      3 minutes ago

      Probably because ChromeOS is only installed on crappy computers. Runs like lightning on my Lenovo.

  • m-p{3}@lemmy.caEnglish
    8·
    8 hours ago

    Nice, so I’ll have a workaround if Termux is too crippled by Android’s restriction.

    I need yt-dlp in my pocket 😬