• Norgur@fedia.io
    9·
    5 months ago

    According to the Linux Foundation: Yes According to Google: No, not really

  • androidisking@lemmy.world
    41·
    5 months ago

    I was talking to a friend the other about about this. He said he loves the Android OS. He said imagining putting Linux on it and I couldn’t help but laugh. His eyes widened when I told him what Android really was

  • HStone32@lemmy.world
    3·
    5 months ago

    I’ve been patiently waiting for advancements in true Linux phones for years. I feel like a hypocrite when using android. Anyone know if pinephone is nearing a new release?

      • Darorad@lemmy.world
        21·
        5 months ago

        Eh, it depends how you define Linux. Android uses a modified Linux kernel, but most of what’s above that is different. By the point you’re at the application layer they’re basically completely incompatible.

        Is it technically Linux? Yeah but it’s so different from a user’s perspective it’s best to treat them as separate imo.

        • Aux@lemmy.world
          01·
          5 months ago

          User land is incompatible even between traditional Linux distros and they all do kernel mods to suit their needs, so yeah, Android is as much of a Linux as Ubuntu is.

          • Darorad@lemmy.world
            11·
            5 months ago

            Android introduces far more incompatibilities, and the kernel mods are more impactful than the vast majority of other systems. Userspace incompatibilities are basically negligable for most distros.

            It’s differences are substantial enough that I think it makes sense to treat it as a separate os.

            • Aux@lemmy.world
              11·
              4 months ago

              Not true at all. Many distros like Alpine are not using GNU userland, yet you would consider them a proper Linux, right? And kernel changes in distros… Don’t even get me started. Suffice to say that no one ships vanilla for decades.

  • Dizzy Devil Ducky@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    5 months ago

    The way I see it is Android users are Linux users the same way fans of games who have only played the spin-off games are to people who have played the mainline games. They’re just a different kind of fan.

      • kaputter Aimbot@feddit.de
        0·
        5 months ago

        Which are?

        I really want to know! I am using both but wouldn’t call me an expert. There is still much to learn.

        • HStone32@lemmy.world
          1·
          5 months ago

          Consider how dead-easy it is to write a bash script or c program in Linux, and then enable it (have it run on boot) using SystemD daemons. A total noob could do it after reading a 5 minute tutorial.

          Is it even possible to do the same on an android phone? I have no idea, but willing to bet not.

        • pedz@lemmy.ca
          0·
          5 months ago

          Free software. Try to use apt on Android, or run software that you can use on a desktop. And no ads in every app.

          Root access, that is, being admim of your own device.

          Being able to access the file system and support for different types. For example Android doesn’t support NTFS and needs FAT. Plugging a simple USB drive has mixed results.

          This is from the top of my head. I use both but I really don’t like how Android is locked down and so limited, even for power users. I really wish I could have a real “pocket computer” instead of this thing that feeds me ads.

          • jbk@discuss.tchncs.de
            0·
            5 months ago

            Try to use apt on Android

            With Termux one can

            And no ads in every app.

            Don’t use apps with ads then? Or set up an ad blocker.

            Root access, that is, being admim of your own device.

            That’s just how most Android versions are shipped. It’s still technically possible to get root access, and really enjoy every privilege of Linux. Not all devices allow using a custom OS though, sadly

            • smileyhead@discuss.tchncs.de
              0·
              5 months ago

              and really enjoy every privilege of Linux

              Like ability to install different desktop enviroment?
              I have a phone with PostmarketOS installed and, besides being immature for now, the difference in possibilities are night and day.
              Almost all apps store settings in easy to backup .config folder. I can really script things using cron jobs and plain bash. Develop apps with any programming language without stupid SDK. Carry portable Minecraft of Factorio server for LAN parties. Use literally the exact same apps on both phone and desktop without ports and having their data synced. I can talk for hours.

              • jbk@discuss.tchncs.de
                0·
                5 months ago

                Like ability to install different desktop enviroment?

                Technically, with root access, yeah. It’s just that Android’s UI isn’t a DE/WM in the desktop Linux sense

                Almost all apps store settings in easy to backup .config folder.

                And same for Android app data with root access. /data contains, well, data of apps and the general system. Sure, it’s not the same as on desktop Linux, but it’s still possible to modify, copy, delete with root access. Every app is a different Linux user on Android, and that’s also just different from desktop Linux.

                To me, you’re just pointing out differences due to the software architecture of both OSes.