Run Linux containers on Android, no root required

(github.com)

77 points | by politelemon 8 hours ago

12 comments

  • vimredo 2 hours ago
    I don't understand what this would be useful for. The Linux terminal app on Android (check Developer settings if you want it) already exists and it uses hardware accelerated virtualization, while this uses QEMU with TCG. The Linux terminal app also supports running a DE (No VNC - as in no VNC, not NoVNC - required!), has full shell, full root, all the features of Podroid, and hell, you could even swap out the terminal if you wanted to. The only advantage to this seems that it supports Android 14, 15, and 16. Am I missing something, or does this have no purpose?
    • gbil 27 minutes ago
      My understanding is that the integrated linux terminal is not supported on all processors like snapdragon ones and also is not available on all manufactures like Samsung. Therefore this approach covers a much bigger audience.
    • j45 2 hours ago
      Sometimes the capability unlocks the possibilities.
    • nagaiaida 1 hour ago
      [dead]
  • ekropotin 25 minutes ago
    I find the title very misleading. Linux containers typically means LXC, but when in readme you say it’s intended for running OCI-based containers.
  • tuananh 1 hour ago
    what about the other way around?

    i'm aware about waydroid but it has too many problems with nvidia. also require wayland.

    • unicornporn 1 hour ago
      X86 builds of Android are stuck at many generations back of the OS. Running Android in a VM on X86 is basically dead AFAIK. :(
  • anthk 21 minutes ago
    Termux and a BT keyboard it's enough.

    Also, native Emacs under FDroid has recently been improved a lot.

    With just Emacs you get:

    - An IRC, Usenet and Mail client. The ONLY libre Usenet client. comp.arch and comp.misc have really engaging discussions. You can score up nice commenters and blacklist every spammer

    - Gemini and Gopher via ELPA (run Esc-x package-install RET elpher)

    - A math mini CAS with Esc-x calc RET

    - Esc-x package-install RET malyon, get some nice ZMachine text adventures at IFDB

    - Elisp environment+cl-lib can do a lot

    - Esc-x package-install jabber, Esc-x jabber. Chat with cool people at XMPP servers.

    - Org-Mode, enough said

    - eshell will allow you to automate stuff

    - Elisp + Android related functions + org-mode: heaven.

    - Sudoku, Sokoban, Tetris...

    - LSP integration it's possible

    Get some $10 pocket bluetooth keyboard and try it.

  • Antitoxic6185 3 hours ago
    tmux with proot distros exist though
  • nullbyte808 4 hours ago
    Is it possible to get the reverse of this working? (Waydroid with play services on Linux phones, such as postmarketOS)
    • seba_dos1 1 hour ago
      I've been using Waydroid with microG on a Librem 5 with PureOS for years. Not extensively as I don't have a lot of reasons to boot Android, but when I do have one it's there.

      I've seen some guides for installing Play Services in Waydroid, but personally I'm not interested.

      • unicornporn 1 hour ago
        The latest Waydroid beta is over three years old. Waydroid is dead and I haven't found an alternative.
    • vimredo 2 hours ago
      Why wouldn't it? All you need is a binder device for Android IPC and root access to launch Waydroid. It should work perfectly fine when installed and used with Wayland.
  • figmert 6 hours ago
    This can probably be upstreamed into podman. Podman already has supports using a VM using podman machine (uses different tech under the hood depending on the OS). This seems like it can be yet another backend for it.
  • VonGuard 59 minutes ago
    Podman.....
  • nixosbestos 4 hours ago
    I just want a folding portable monitor now. We're getting so close...
  • ilsubyeega 7 hours ago
    curious is this just software qemu(not sure what word exactly was) instead of virtualization acceleration, probably more overheads?
    • em500 5 hours ago
      Yes, under How It Works:

      > libqemu-system-aarch64.so (QEMU TCG, no KVM)

      TCG means software emulation

      • kristianp 3 hours ago
        I thought why is qemu used here? Why not use linux native namespaces and cgroups.
        • NewJazz 3 hours ago
          Permissions. Isolation.
          • Retr0id 2 hours ago
            so, like namespaces and cgroups?
            • figmert 1 hour ago
              Android kernel has the relevant kernel parameters disabled. It is entirely possible to run containers directly on android, but it requires enabled the relevant parameter (iirc no recompilation need, just a cmdline change). But this of course requires root.
    • meltyness 5 hours ago
    • NewJazz 5 hours ago
      Itbsays it doesnt use kvm, so i thinj that meens no accel.
  • TheRoque 6 hours ago
    With this I could in theory do all my work from my Android phone.
  • ggm 5 hours ago
    And local FS access is mediated how?