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this post was submitted on 10 Sep 2023
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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Android is still open source. Proprietary stuff gets added by the time it gets to the consumer, but the base is open.
It's open-source merely to comply with the GPL license of the kernel, but the fact is that an Android image built only from open source components will be extremely crippled or, depending on your point of view, basically useless. Such an image will not even boot on the majority of devices ; you'll need those sweet proprietary driver blobs if you want your phone to do anything, and a bunch more closed source binaries in order to use Play services.
Not sure exactly how many blobs I need to install Linux on my pc. I know there's proprietary stuff for my Nvidia card (optional) and possibly NIC, but most hardware is supported by the kernel these days?
Also, the play store. That's my biggest issue with Android. Everything depends on the store.
Did you try Aurora store (interface to Google play store, trying to hide your installs) or the more Linux like repository manager f-droid?
Linux has a similar issue though
Don't know why this is downvoted. Even distros like Debian, that are 100% FOSS otherwise, will (often) load some proprietary firmware because otherwise it would barely be functional on any modern computer.
I was afraid someone was going to point out that AOSP exists, but it's not very useful.
The Android that everyone uses and talks about is very closed, because everything depends on the playstore.