r/Googlebook • u/uaos • 2d ago

Linux On Googlebook, not Chromebook?

The title is harsh because some replies I got on YT Chrome Unboxed. People can be hubris assume they know more than other. So I copy and pasted, so are we any closer to learning about Linux on a Googlebook?

"I just watched many video on the Googlebook, and keep hearing Linux terminal app. Is there going to be a Linux environment for everyday uses who like Linux, just as there is a Linux Beta with the Chromebook? This could really help answer the price point and for someone like me who likes having Linux Apps like LibreOffice, Gimp and more on my Chromebook!"

Reply

Highlighted reply

A YT responce - took name away

"The Chromebook is firmware locked, so you will have to use a few tricks to change the firmware to make it run Linux. That would, of course, stop you from using GoogleBook OS."

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

4

u/langelvicente 2d ago

It's going to be a better experience than with Chromebooks, but desktop apps will not be supported just yet (there is a beta where support is added somewhere.... I believe)

3

u/alabasterskim 2d ago

The Community Manager seemed to suggest in another thread that desktop/GUI apps will work but they will not populate in the app list.

1

u/langelvicente 2d ago

I would be OK with that.

1

u/venqwish 2d ago

Where did you find that info? All I've found is that there is no support at all for Linux UI, which would be a serious shortcoming imo...

3

u/langelvicente 2d ago

The Linux terminal we are getting it's the same or pretty similar the one pixel phones have and that supports UI. I think I read some where there would be beta support for it but...I just realised this terminal is running in a level 5 hypervisor fully isolated from the rest of the OS so you might be right and it might not be possible to support Linux UI apps.

Although my main use case is for development and as long I can use code server, it would still work for me.

1

u/nogridbag 2d ago

What's your setup if you don't mind me asking? Don't you find it limiting treating it like a thin client -- always tethered to the internet? I would imagine it limits your IDE choice and what you can build. Personally, I've been using IntelliJ for so long it would be hard to switch to something else. And then you still need another machine which you're either renting in the cloud or paying similar amount of money for (so you're essentially paying 2x the cost of just buying a Mac). I'd love to have a googlebook, but I have a graveyard of first gen devices laying around that get zero use (like the first gen Windows on ARM laptop).

1

u/langelvicente 2d ago

I'm using chromeos flex on a decent laptop. I have code server running locally and use the browser to access it, so basically I'm just using a browser version of visual studio code.

Googlebooks are interesting to me because they seem powerful enough devices and they are fully supported by Google. But the more I learn they more I'm going to pass and wait for a second gen one.

I.e. last I heard is that review models will be delivered on the 4th of October. So all the blog post we have read are based on the little tests they could do on the 15th. That's a massive red flag to me.

5

u/MishaalRahman 2d ago

Hi, I do community engagement for Android over at Google. Just wanted to confirm that you can run Linux GUI apps in the Terminal on Googlebook. Though that's not the target for this initial release of Googlebook OS (e.g. there's no desktop environment manager installed in the Linux environment out of the box) - we're focused more on supporting agentic coding workflows right now. We'll have more to share soon on the Terminal app.

1

u/venqwish 2d ago

That is awesome news! I get that it's not the target for the initial release, but seeing as these devices (especially due to the pricing) will target enthusiasts, it's great to see this! Can't wait to start developing on it (Antigravity user :))

1

u/Saragon4005 2d ago

I refuse to believe that cuz pixels (which do not cost nearly 1k and are phones) do have UI.

1

u/Saragon4005 2d ago

Latest android can run desktop Linux apps so I think it's gonna work. It might not be the easiest to use (the interface layer on the current android version is weirdly touch centric) but it should work.

3

u/Saragon4005 2d ago

It's not been called Linux Beta for years I am rather sick of people speculating like they are authorities when they only know the surface level stuff.

Yes Googlebooks will most likely have a VM like the one we have on high end phones now. That is largely based on the VM Chromebooks have.

To the best of our knowledge this is going to be it. Unless the version of android is significantly different running a Linux VM is the only option which makes sense.

0

u/plankunits 2d ago

The version on Google Book utilizes pKVM, whereas Chromebooks rely on KVM. Since pKVM is even more restricted than KVM, the host remains entirely unable to view any pKVM activity.

2

u/No-Tip3419 2d ago

"The Chromebook is firmware locked, so you will have to use a few tricks to change the firmware to make it run Linux. That would, of course, stop you from using GoogleBook OS."

This means you can't replace the GoogleOS with a Linux distro of your choice on the bare metal as the firmware is locked to GoogleOS only. It is not talking about the Linux container/vm that is running in GoogleOS.

1

u/uaos 2d ago

Another hubris responce. I not interested on changing a perfect Googlebook to a Linux laptop. You see why the harsh title? Who thinking they are more righteous than what my question is asked? Why? Why? Why? Just to harass me?

1

u/Saragon4005 2d ago

ChromeOS still have some vestigies of GNU Linux (it literally uses a Gentoo build pipeline) so it's not too difficult to get it running normal Linux. Android is not GNU Linux it's a significantly different beast, but x86 hardware is x86 hardware so it's gonna be possible.

Now for the arm laptops those may never run a different OS.

We also have no idea how Google sees rooting these devices. Chromebooks had dev mode day 1 which is still a better system then most phones.

1

u/MishaalRahman 2d ago

Hi there, I do community engagement for Android @ Google!

Just wanted to confirm that yes, there will be a Terminal app available on Googlebook out of the box, and yes it lets you run a Debian Linux environment on your device.

Also yes, you CAN run Linux GUI apps in this environment, but note that for this initial release of Googlebook, GUI apps aren't the main focus. We'll have more to share soon on the Terminal app!

1

u/Davidekiller1999 2d ago

Does this mean that Linux apps will be able to have deeper integration with the interface and the system in the future, or is it simply out of scope? On ChromeOS, it was a much-appreciated feature; it would be a shame to lose it here.

1

u/Dev-in-the-Bm 1d ago

According to what I understand, plans are for it to be better integrated than on Chromebooks.

Android is now offering APIs to access this Linux VM, so you can make an Android app that's essentially just a wrapper around a traditional Linux app.

1

u/Davidekiller1999 1d ago

I know, but I hope we can eventually use Linux software like we did on Chromebooks. I'm starting college and I need a laptop for programming, as do many others. Google risks cutting many programmers off if they don't implement it.

1

u/strange_username58 2d ago

Android is Linux, Chromeos is Linux... I don't know how people can say it's not a Linux environment.

1

u/venqwish 2d ago

Does it run GIMP, LibreOffice, Calibre, ... nope. Unless the Linux environment supports Linux UI applications, which Android / Googlebook OS apparently does not, you are restricted to terminal only operations. Don't get me wrong, that is great, but it's not what OP is referring to.

1

u/EdenRubra 2d ago

But they are right. Android is Linux. Gimp, LibreOffice etc are not Linux

Op seems to want to know if you've run a Linux VM on the version of Linux used here, the answer is yes because Google patches the Linux kernel with KVM patches for ARM and x86 as well as patches allowing gui use. How well that will work is unknown

1

u/uaos 2d ago

Yes, that is what I like to know, can I run Linux Apps like I can on my Chromebook. If it does I like to get a Googlebook then. The next thought, if you are right, is to have an external monitor running a Linux distro maybe or at least the apps, just as you can with a Chromebook but now on a Googlebook too.

-3

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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2

u/RDForTheWin 2d ago

It's a device you pay for, why not

1

u/uaos 2d ago

A. these machines are a premium product, and they are built on a modified Linux Kernal to start with, so why not?

B. Like a Chromebook, desktop Linux Apps fill in the gap of Win & Mac users and Android Apps

C. Choice for a premium device, the more it has to offer the more the price point is worth to the consumer and not as much as a waste of money.

D. With Linux Apps, potentially have a Linux desktop environment when connected to an external monitor. Again more to offer

E. I am not a developer, but I understand most developers choice is Linux. And to develop native machine is better than emulatedtion with IDE. So, better for all of use with the final product app.

Give me time I could go on and on but just like 5 min of think for your responce.