this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2025
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Android

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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 10 points 2 days ago

Docker works as expected:

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 days ago (1 children)

ITT: nobody understands the difference between this and Termux

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I also don't really see a point to it

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

That's fine, but there is a big difference between the two. Termux is a terminal emulator for the host operating system, while this is a VM running a completely separate guest operating system - Debian 12, in this case. ARM version, but still Debian.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Oh dang, I gotta get on the new android!

[–] avidamoeba 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] avidamoeba 4 points 2 days ago

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

[–] avidamoeba 18 points 3 days ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 days ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (5 children)

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

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[–] avidamoeba 3 points 3 days 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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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 3 points 3 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago (10 children)

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 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] avidamoeba 8 points 2 days ago

Just tried, and yes you can.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

RIP maemo. Nokia really messed that up.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I had the n810 and always coveted the n900

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

u had one!??

the best smart phone I ever had was the BlackBerry q10

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days 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.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Ahem termux had this feature for ages

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

The use termux?

[–] avidamoeba 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] avidamoeba 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

ight now i need a pixel with video out and I'm satisfied.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The past two generations have supported that

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yep and there is a new desktop mode that will be available soon as well.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (2 children)

holy shit huge news, for some reason i didn't catch that. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

I haven't seen anyone talking about it except Graphene OS

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