I’m currently messing around with Termux and trying to install Linux through AnLinux, Andronix and UserLAnd just for fun.
I have mixed success in AnLinux. I successfully installed and started Lubuntu but it was running pretty slowly. I wasn’t able to replicate the install a while later. Also I totally failed to get ArchLinux running.
Now I’m trying Andronix. Wish me luck!
Do you have any experience running a Linux on your mobile?
I used to have various Linux setups on my Android phones. I experimented with different chroot setups and applications, settled on just generating my own chroot using debootstrap and mounting it with a script in the Terminal app. XServer XSDL for GUI. It worked, but it wasn’t amazing.
These days I switched to proper Linux phone. Typing this on my PinePhonePro keyboard using postmarketOS. If you really want the best pocketable Linux experience you can get, this is by far the best. Might not be the best if you depend on Android apps, but my Android use case was mostly just browser and a few unimportant apps that have Linux alternatives.
Termux by itself can be a good linux shell standin if you’re used to working from a command line. I like using it for vim or emacs-nox more than I like any android text editor apps that I’ve tried. Plus, Midnight Commander is a top notch file manager.
You can also use termux with a graphical interface.
Neat! That could be very useful for everything that works well within the limitations of vnc.
Edit: I’ve tried this out! I loosely followed the guide on a Kindle Fire and I’m much more impressed with the results than I thought I would be. No Libreoffice in the default repository, but I’m impressed with the responsiveness while running Abiword in XFCE4. Initial impression is that the app selection is hit or miss relative to running full-bore linux on a desktop computer, but I’m still experimenting. Firefox installs and I was surprised to see that youtube videos were playable to an extent. Much less laggy than trying to run vnc between two separate devices. I’ll probably keep this setup if for no other reason than to have a desktop version of firefox on my tablet.
You can also install a distro using proot-distro and connect to it with vnc. https://wiki.termux.com/wiki/PRoot
I’m trying Debian right now and it seems to work fine.
Cc @RassilonianLegate@mstdn.social https://mstdn.social/@RassilonianLegate
Getting the proot distro to output an x11 display to the vnc server seems to be a bit more challenging that I was hoping. If I can find a guide that helps me figure this out, I’ll post a link here.
I have Debian working. When I just installed xfce4 it didn’t work. Some error about not contacting settings server. But I tried installing xfce4 with tasksel (also selected graphic environment) and then had no problem at all. I’ve not tried wit other desktops. Also tried with Ubuntu and it worked just installing xfce4 without using tasksel.
I changed the version to Debian Sid and I’ve had no problems yet. I’ll update if things change.
I running GNU/Linux on my Phone natively. And I use Waydroid layer to run Android apps. So I kinda doing the opposite 😄
I always wandered what the battery life would be like on these devices
The battery life is awful. But I bought the official clamshell keyboard for it that replaces the back cover and expands the battery capacity. With this accessory the battery life is good.
Technically Android is already Linux. Linux is the kernel only. (queue stallman gnu meme here)
But I never had a great experience with termux. :(
Android uses Linux.
Before downvoting me consider that it’s factually true.
