164
submitted 3 months ago by limerod@reddthat.com to c/android@lemdro.id

TL;DR

  • Google has added a tabbed interface to the Terminal app in Android 16 Beta 3.
  • The Terminal app lets you run Linux apps in a virtual machine on your Android device.
  • Adding tabs makes it easier to multitask, as you can issue commands without having to wait for a process to complete.
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[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 19 points 3 months ago

So I tried this just now, and it works. It looks pretty good at first glance. Proper Debian VM, can listen on ports, can access files under Downloads. It just takes 10-20 seconds to start and a few to stop.

[-] juli@lemmy.world 13 points 3 months ago

would you switch over from termux for this? for performance or something else?

[-] TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.zip 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It's a debian VM, much better than messing with the android system. All I want now is bridged mode for the network adapters

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 months ago

It appears to be running behind NAT but it's already have an easy port forwarding feature where I was able to connect to a server running on the VM by connecting to localhost in Termux.

[-] TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 months ago

Can you forward ports below 1024? I don't get the notification when it's these ports that require sudo.

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[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 months ago

For things that don't work on Termux. The only advantage of Termux is that it starts way faster and it consumes significantly less resources. Other than that, the VM would be superior. So if I had to connect via SSH to a machine, I'd probably use Termux.

[-] biscuit@lemdro.id 6 points 3 months ago

can access files under Downloads

Wait, you can access local files on your phone's storage in the VM now? Is that a new addition? On the Android 15 version of this, you don't have any local access at all.

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 months ago

I'm on the standard Android 15 on 8 Pro. The shared storage is mounted at /mnt/shared

[-] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 3 months ago

ITT: nobody understands the difference between this and Termux

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[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 15 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

RDPing from Android into the VM after installing a desktop environment:

[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 3 points 3 months ago

How's it run? Have you done any performance tests?

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 months ago

No benchmarks. It works, not very fast in the guy but usable.

[-] s08nlql9@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago

Just discovered this and want to try a full linux desktop. But what RDP you installed app for this?

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[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 10 points 3 months ago

Docker works as expected:

[-] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 7 points 3 months ago

This is like giving a bandaid to someone who just broke their fucking femur. I want actual linux and open source on my phone not a container that runs debian.

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 months ago

It's a real VM, not a container. Chances are you can run containers on top of the VM. Haven't tried.

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 months ago

Just tried, and yes you can.

[-] 01011@monero.town 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

RIP maemo. Nokia really messed that up.

[-] nsrxn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I had the n810 and always coveted the n900

[-] 01011@monero.town 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Physical keyboard. Debian Linux for mobile. It's still my favorite smartphone ever.

[-] nsrxn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

u had one!??

the best smart phone I ever had was the BlackBerry q10

[-] 01011@monero.town 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I did indeed. Kept using it for as long as I could until I was compelled to switch to Android/iOS. I dislike them both but Android is the lesser of two evils.

[-] space_iio@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 months ago

So why not use Ubuntu Touch?

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 months ago

Because it sucks?

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[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 3 points 3 months ago

What do we think is Google's motivation for adding this?

[-] testman@lemmy.ml 11 points 3 months ago

Supposedly Google would have better time taking care of just one consumer OS instead of two, so Android is getting some PC features so that it will be able to replace ChromeOS in the future.

[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 2 points 3 months ago

Shoulda done that a long time ago. Do we think it will be released with accompanying hardware? Something similar to a NexDock or Razer's Linda hardware?

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It's part of AOSP so whoever ships Android probably could expose it to the user.

[-] Boomkop3@reddthat.com 3 points 3 months ago

I really hope linux apps don't start getting dependent on google libraries

[-] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Ahem termux had this feature for ages

[-] Michal@programming.dev 1 points 3 months ago

The use termux?

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 months ago
[-] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago
[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Sure but this can do things that Termux can't. E.g. running a desktop, Docker or whatever else a full Debian OS can run. Plus you can do tabs in Byobu or whatever.

[-] adbenitez@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 months ago

It is also possible to run GUI desktops in Termux since ages, for example take a look at:

AnLinux (Run Linux On Android Without Root Access) https://f-droid.org/packages/exa.lnx.a/

It was also possible to run a "full Debian" using PRoot etc

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Sure but according to the AnLinux project docs you can't really run everything Debian can. For example it says it can't run some DEs. For me this isn't about whether Termux can do things a Debian VM can. I know it can. It's about can Termux do everything a Debian VM can and as far as I know, it cannot.

And then there's the work the Termux team has to do to get programs to work on Android. With a Debian VM, there's no additional work needed. Whatever the Debian team packages would just work.

[-] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)
[-] s08nlql9@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago

Hey guys, is sound working for you? I installed xfce but i get no sound card error. lspci shows no audio device.

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this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2025
164 points (99.4% liked)

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