Google Starts Rolling Out Native Linux Terminal to Android Devices

[securitybreach]

Pixel only so far as it was part of the March feature drop

 

Quote

We have known of Google working on a native Linux Terminal app since late 2024. It incorporates the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) and runs a local virtual machine powered by Debian that allows it to execute various Linux commands.

 

https://www.zdnet.com/article/your-android-phone-will-run-debian-linux-soon-like-some-pixels-already-can/

 

          

 

You basically have a full Debian terminal in a virtual machine and the app allows you to open/manage ports so you could technically run a server on on the go in your pocket. I installed htop and ssh and then connected to the mobile ssh server

I also switched to zsh as shown above. I did have to set the username (droid)'s password but root didnt have one by default.

[abarbarian]

So now we have not only Microsoft but Google too allowing chinks in their locked down technology by allowing open source ie: linux to be used alongside their offerings. hopefully one day we will see open source as the mainstream tech adopted for all.

 

[securitybreach]

36 minutes ago, abarbarian said:

So now we have not only Microsoft but Google too allowing chinks in their locked down technology by allowing open source ie: linux to be used alongside their offerings. hopefully one day we will see open source as the mainstream tech adopted for all.

 

 

Well to be fair, Google has always used opensource in Android. The Android kernel has been linux since it was first created.

 

Quote

Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software, designed primarily for touchscreen-based mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)

[Hedon James]

4 hours ago, abarbarian said:

So now we have not only Microsoft but Google too allowing chinks in their locked down technology by allowing open source ie: linux to be used alongside their offerings. hopefully one day we will see open source as the mainstream tech adopted for all.

 

Agreed!  We are getting closer to that idea I proposed on this forum several years ago (10+) when I said I'd like to see computers with VIRTUALIZATION as their OS; and the user installs the OS of their choice(s).  Buy a new computer and it boots into a VBox, or VMWare, or VMM interface; and the user installs the OS of their choice....Linux, Chrome, Android, Win, OSX....all the above?!  And switching between each as the user desires?  THAT is the holy grail for users, IMO.  And we're getting closer and closer to that!

[abarbarian]

On 3/11/2025 at 9:48 AM, securitybreach said:

Well to be fair, Google has always used opensource in Android. The Android kernel has been linux since it was first created.

 

True. Though it is pretty locked down not as locked down as Apple but still quite hard to fiddle with.

[securitybreach]

1 minute ago, abarbarian said:

 

True. Though it is pretty locked down not as locked down as Apple but still quite hard to fiddle with.

 

Well that isn't android per se. If you run the AOSP build (android open source build), you can do a lot with it. The problem is phone makers and carriers are the ones locking down things.

[securitybreach]

I do not do it anymore but I can root my phone and install one of a ton of customer ROM builds.  https://xdaforums.com/  is the defacto site for builds and instructions for most any phone out there.

 

[abarbarian]

5 hours ago, securitybreach said:

I do not do it anymore but I can root my phone and install one of a ton of customer ROM builds.  https://xdaforums.com/  is the defacto site for builds and instructions for most any phone out there.

 

 

Yeah my bad. Guess I am just a tad grumpy at the moment and venting at big corp. I knew abut xda it is a neat site.