178
submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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[-] [email protected] 19 points 5 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.

[-] [email protected] 13 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 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

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[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 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.

[-] [email protected] 6 points 5 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.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 17 points 5 months ago

ITT: nobody understands the difference between this and Termux

[-] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

I also don't really see a point to it

[-] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

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 5 months ago

Oh dang, I gotta get on the new android!

[-] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

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

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

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

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[-] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago

Docker works as expected:

[-] [email protected] 6 points 5 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.

[-] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago

Just tried, and yes you can.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

RIP maemo. Nokia really messed that up.

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[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago

The past two generations have supported that

[-] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 11 points 5 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.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 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?

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

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

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

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

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Ahem termux had this feature for ages

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

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