Google Enables Linux Terminal on Android, Running Debian in a Virtual Machine

by do son · October 14, 2024

Google recently added a feature called “ferrochrome-dev-option” to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), incorporating a “Linux terminal” option into the developer settings, which allows developers to run a Linux terminal app in a virtual machine within the Android environment.

Given that the Android operating system is natively integrated with the Linux kernel, there should theoretically be minimal limitations when executing the Linux terminal app. However, due to considerations for system consistency, security, and other commercial factors, Google has imposed several restrictions on the Android OS, making it difficult to directly or easily run Linux terminal app.

With this latest adjustment to the Android Open Source Project, developers will not only be able to activate the Linux terminal option within the Android OS but also run Linux apps through a virtual machine.

This modification appears to apply not only to Android devices but also to Chromebooks, potentially enabling more Linux terminal apps to be compatible with the Chrome browser or the Chrome OS.

Given the substantial size of the Linux developer community, Google may be aiming to attract more developers from the Linux platform, thereby expanding the diversity of apps and applications available on Android. This adjustment may appear as early as the Android 16 update, though the final implementation will depend on Google’s subsequent modifications and decisions.