Has anyone tried Linux Deploy, LXC or the like on SATV? - Shield Android TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello, im a new user of the Nvidia Shield TV (Well i don't have it with me yet) but not new at all to Android world, flashing, etc.
Everything i want to use it for its been covered and already have read and watched videos about it, except 1 thing i need to do and yet there's little documentation and not much video reviews about it.
I want to be able to run few linux applications from Android TV, no dualboot. I prefer NOT to mess much with my shield, meaning avoid flashing custom kernels and even root if possible.
I need to run gimp, torrent client, java and few java apps (no games),nothing fancy with a light weight GUI like LXDE, needs to be always available 24/7 in the background.
There is LXC Containers for Shield Android TV covered in the link below, but that would require rooting and flashing custom kernel: http://www.videomap.it/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1604&sid=f53730b7bd38a192f2e08516fecd95c1
There is Linux Deploy app and similars that may require or not root. LD gives the option to use rootfs too.
If any of you have a similar setup already running please post a brief review of your setup, what distro are you running and what method/app did you choose to run linux on android and why. Interested in speeds and performance aswell.
- V

Related

Native ubuntu/chroot jail free? no vnc

Hello All,
Another ubuntu project here..
its a chroot jail free looped native framebuffered something?
one folder on sdcard called linux /sdcard/linux with the .img
your mount point..i use /data/local/mnt/linux
the scripts i use /data/local/mnt
simple you will need to edit the scripts if u edit ur paths..
ill share my stuffs if theres any interest in this.
dunno if this has been done on sgs2 using just scripts but yh
ive managed to get ubuntu13.04 running with full multitouch support using mtrack i use lxde/2d-unity
this approach uses android framebuffer instead of using a vncserver.
Concept/Goal: use android hardware to run linux without vnc and full hardware support...its christmas soon!
so we go a safe way and mount a img file and loop and chroot and mount necessary android stuff i.e /dev /proc /tmp-to help speed up system! and mount all sdcards.
then we kill android-the-framebuffer-hog
and start our xsession,
anyone interested in helping me?
i have the scripts and image, just need more nuerons!
to do is (alot)
Working:
Framebuffer >> full gamma and .mhz settings safe
Wifi
Bluetooth
Reboot to andoid and umount rootfs on log out
Mouse
Multitouch tap is click, double tap is ?grab window to move it, two fingers for right click, three to scroll
Screenshots
Charging
Sdcard
MicroSd
Keyboard >> virtual
Theres alot but its hard to summerise lol
Not Working (WIP)
get sound working completely (evrythings working except last output part) alsamixer, pulseaudio all work..just the last bit..so no sound.
figure out why system_bus_socket connection refused?
why dbus isnt being used but starting ok?
Landscape mode mouse axis. (i can rotate the display but the mouse axis are wrong.. up=right down=left) (portrait is fine)
camara
gpio-keys (hardware buttons)
calls
text messaging.
OTG USB (i made one so im assuming its that that doesnt work simply tweak to the xorg.conf to swap from touch to mouse..)
DRI & DRI2
GL_OES_EGL_image for 3d
have to use a virtual keyboard until running android apps in linux is figured out--ahem (i use matchbox-keyboard)
logon screen works but the keyboard is a issue. (virtual keyboard only starts once logged in. so no logon yet just auto logon)
you can still use ssh and vncserver if you wanted to..
any interest ill share my scripts...
as i said im not the only person to chroot imgs, but i havent seen a thread on getting it running natively on sgs2 without uboot or repartioning anything.
unless u completely recompile the linux os whilst inside of it, i.e adding vmlinux.img should be safe enough. works for me
anyway been a busy with this and im not a pro developer just a seasoned addict, thus the call for arms!
peace!
some screenshots
and you expect me to share my work when none of you have any input..phhhhhaaa
EDIT >> i was how you say suffering from a spot of pink eye! Strange strange thought patterns = WEIRD REMARKS lol
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Wow, erm.......awkward!
I wish you success in your endeavors.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Interesting.
May I ask what are you using for? I mean, which killer app in Ubuntu you can't replace with an Android one?
Moreover, I have noticed an X server on the Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.darkside.XServer)
Using it, instead of killing Android, may allow some more integration with the Android environment (e.g. you could still receive calls while using your ubuntu stuff).
Another improvement would be to use multiple consoles (you know, Ctrl-Alt-Fx stuff) to have both environments running
Just my 2ç
Z
zavorrax said:
Interesting.
May I ask what are you using for? I mean, which killer app in Ubuntu you can't replace with an Android one?
Moreover, I have noticed an X server on the Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.darkside.XServer)
Using it, instead of killing Android, may allow some more integration with the Android environment (e.g. you could still receive calls while using your ubuntu stuff).
Another improvement would be to use multiple consoles (you know, Ctrl-Alt-Fx stuff) to have both environments running
Just my 2ç
Z
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol
i mean to free up surfaceflinger and the framebuffer and send android into a slumber?so we can use it for our xsession. not KILL PERMANETLY
its like a chroot jail free no vnc something??
using vnc will allow u to still have android on in the background for calls and what not but thats chrooting a image to a mount point and running a app. awsome but i got bored with that..much perfere native input.
Search for linuxonandroid by zachthespack hes been dealing with chrooting linux for a long time and has a good application and a healthy stock of img files for you to use, plus a good how to. http://www.linuxonandroid.org Download from play store.. search 4 linuxonandroid
...thats not a bad idea zavorrax about the X11 app..
although running a third party app to use the framebuffer seems pointless when u can use the devices one!
wouldnt u rather have a true linux os in your pocket rather then a clever spin off of it, dont get me wrong i love android and its easy moddding.. linux is far better though.. this project im doing is after all, on a android device.
android root is always 0 ... root = / .... android apps are the users...if that makes sense?
linux uses users who log in..so root still has the initial setup of the os incase a user messes up, root can reset it with relative ease.
so in order to use linux for a vnc free linux, (root is in my opinion just like a programme.) needs to also be 0
thus, night night android..
its hard to explain, its linux and android?
basically the only way i can explain this is its the same as a chroot of a distro BUT instead of using vnc/X11 apks as the only way of having a GUI, we can optionally use the android framebuffer..fb0...
this thread wasnt ment to be a how-to just to see if theres any intrerest out here.
ill make a proper how to with all the basics needed.
as i said theres alot of these projects across the android platform, people trying too turn android back to linux/running linux.
u can pretty much use any img used for vnc or create your own for this.
theres a lot ubuntu/arch/debian/kali/backtrack..etc..etc
i initially add a file to my new img and apt-get a few things, run a few commands to change the img for my device then only need to execute my script,on the fly, hello linux desktop why not!
theres alot of debugging thats why im seeing if anyone is interested in this and would like to help/participate
i initially started using vnc years ago but got fed up with having to run a handful of scripts in this app and then find and add my ports and set passwords in another app, all using important cpu and power, so i thought why not make it all into one easy script.sh.......can of worms...
fruition was glimpsed so i continued.
just use it bcos i can
oh yeah and i say kill/sleep android, its all there..just not emulated/running a instance..sort of packed away in a box.(sleeping lol)
until i/someone can debug compatability for things like phone or proximity sensor then inside the linux GUI theres no support because it hasnt been setup/coded
thanks.
mckeowngoo said:
Wow, erm.......awkward!
I wish you success in your endeavors.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i to was a search and download kinda guy, now i find coding and debugging for myself interesting/rewarding.
its such a burden having hobbies!
Wow, erm.......awkward!
lol
cheers
If you're not going to share your work, why are you posting about it on XDA?
Thread closed. OP if you decide to share this then contact me when you have links ready and I will reopen this thread.

[Q] Anything better than BotBrew Basil for compiling Linux apps?

I just botched my install of BotBrew by switching from sid to Wheezy. Sid appears to be all sorts of buggy and is even warned to be so on Debian's site. I even managed to mess up my tablet completely by trying to move the old directory so I could start fresh but keep the old stuff for reference as I reinstalled/recompiled everything.
Now that I'm on a fresh slate seeing as BotBrew is three years now without update is there anything better out there to set up a Linux environment that I can compile things in and perhaps turn into a nice fully featured Linux install to share with people?
I was halfway through the dependencies for Cinnamon (my favorite WM) before I somehow killed Python beyond repair so forgive me for my rants. Getting that far (about 12 solid hours work) and having to start over is... taxing on the nerves.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
mascondante said:
I just botched my install of BotBrew by switching from sid to Wheezy. Sid appears to be all sorts of buggy and is even warned to be so on Debian's site. I even managed to mess up my tablet completely by trying to move the old directory so I could start fresh but keep the old stuff for reference as I reinstalled/recompiled everything.
Now that I'm on a fresh slate seeing as BotBrew is three years now without update is there anything better out there to set up a Linux environment that I can compile things in and perhaps turn into a nice fully featured Linux install to share with people?
I was halfway through the dependencies for Cinnamon (my favorite WM) before I somehow killed Python beyond repair so forgive me for my rants. Getting that far (about 12 solid hours work) and having to start over is... taxing on the nerves.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're looking for an easy way to run a full linux environment on Android(through chroot) I would recommend trying Linux on Android (found at http://linuxonandroid.org/). Download from Play store .
It has many linux distributions to choose from and has worked perfectly for me. I tend to start ssh server on the linux chroot and connect to it locally with VX Connectbot most of the time when I'm using it.
(How were u planning to run Cinnamon on android? Vncserver?)
I like Linux on Android. The only thing I don't like is it uses an image file instead of a directory on my device. Makes moving stuff back and forth kind of a pain. I use http://sourceforge.net/projects/libsdl-android/files/apk/XServer-XSDL/ and set my display location to XServer-XSDL in the chroot and any app I launch opens in XServer.
I'm thinking of taking a crack at making my own Ubuntu bootstrap as I prefer it to Debian. Not sure if the prebuilt would work or if I could set up an image without using QEMU.
After another all-nighter I must say I have huge respect for anyone who builds Linux from scratch. I was lucky enough to have a repo that had some of the packages I needed but at least 50% of the dependencies I needed had to be compiled. And naturally they had dependencies that had to be compiled and so on. I don't know how many layers deep I had to go. I lost count.
mascondante said:
I like Linux on Android. The only thing I don't like is it uses an image file instead of a directory on my device. Makes moving stuff back and forth kind of a pain. I use http://sourceforge.net/projects/libsdl-android/files/apk/XServer-XSDL/ and set my display location to XServer-XSDL in the chroot and any app I launch opens in XServer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could always mount the iso image to a directory and access all the files that way. Or just access /sdcard or /external_sd from within linux chroot.
I tried XServer-XSDL but it had bad keyboard lag when typing quickly(letters appear very slowly) -- especially with an external keyboard. Do you experience that?
xIsei said:
You could always mount the iso image to a directory and access all the files that way. Or just access /sdcard or /external_sd from within linux chroot.
I tried XServer-XSDL but it had bad keyboard lag when typing quickly(letters appear very slowly) -- especially with an external keyboard. Do you experience that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the advice. If I start to go insane from my efforts I'll give that a whirl.
I believe it lagged but as I didn't have a WM open just a simple app called SheepShaver it wasn't as noticeable. To be perfectly honest I'm not sure that I remember.
For anyone who cares I finally built Cinnamon. It won't launch. Clutter is complaining about the screen. Something to do with libEGL getting pissed because of the setup I'm using. https://mail.gnome.org/archives/commits-list/2014-June/msg03415.html shows a commit that should fix that. I'm trying to compile it but like the rest of my experiences it's not as simple as compile and done. More like knock out a tree of dependencies, sacrifice your first born, pray and cross your fingers hoping something else isn't going to go wrong. Kind of disappointing. Cinnamon is such a beautifully simplistic yet still very pleasant looking WM.
For now I'll keep beating my head against a wall until I pass out or break it down. Will share once I'm done. I plan on switching it from Debian to Linux Mint if possible. A fully working Linux Mint seems like an adventurous goal to shoot for. But for now it's daylight and this child of the darkness needs some sleep. I'd love it if some senior developers subbed to this and shared their ideas and collaborated with me. I've only got one friend to call on for help and he's a FreeBSD guy so his help only goes so far. Thanks.

No Root? How about a set of linux shell utilities without root.

Anybody else upset that you cannot root the device and install common linux shell utilities on it such as ssh, curl, etc? I created a petition for google to create a set of shell utilities for all android owners, regardless as root. Even without root, there is no reason we can't use ssh. This is common on most linux hosts. Please have a look and consider signing the petition, or give me feedback.
https://www.change.org/p/google-inc...utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
nothing stops you from making this yourself, or using one of the existing ways to run a ssh server
Terminal IDE provides lots of GNU utilities, but hasn't been updated for 5.0 compatibility https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spartacusrex.spartacuside&hl=en
SSHDroid provides a SSH server https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=berserker.android.apps.sshdroid&hl=en
Hi #Sual, while you are correct, SSHDroid provides an SSHd server, However it does not provide a native ssh client, I could run through the connected device. I have tried many things suggested by users, but none of them offer a set of shell utilities I can run from the android host shell itself. Did you have a chance to read through the petition and fully understand what I'm requesting. Similar functionality would come from dan drowns android ports, or lil debi, or busybox, but all require root. Finally the fact things aren't updated for 5.0 compatibility, underscores that There is a reason that people desire this functionality on the device itself. Thanks for your feedback.
Saul Goodman said:
nothing stops you from making this yourself, or using one of the existing ways to run a ssh server
Terminal IDE provides lots of GNU utilities, but hasn't been updated for 5.0 compatibility https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spartacusrex.spartacuside&hl=en
SSHDroid provides a SSH server https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=berserker.android.apps.sshdroid&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are ways to run Busybox without root. Here's an app that makes it dead simple: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=burrows.apps.busybox. I've used it on my XT1528 (Verizon Moto E) with great success.
There are also ways to run Debian without root, like KBOX: http://kevinboone.net/kbox3.html
I couldn't read your petition because the link is bad.
But I don't know why this is something you feel is owed to you by Google. I agree that it'd be useful, but it's totally not something I'd expect to be part of a mobile platform at all. It's clearly something you could make on your own. If existing solutions require root, it's in part because that makes it easier or because their creators assume that everyone has root.
ecaslak said:
There are ways to run Busybox without root. Here's an app that makes it dead simple: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=burrows.apps.busybox. I've used it on my XT1528 (Verizon Moto E) with great success.
There are also ways to run Debian without root, like KBOX: http://kevinboone.net/kbox3.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi @ecaslak ,
I will try your suggestions. Most recently I've tried GNURoot Debian, which uses proot. However I was unable to use the open ssh server I installed on it. However, I will still stand by my petition.
A significant portion of the Android community spends great effort trying to root their devices, many with only the desire for common functionality that we have from any core linux distribution. While having root itself on a device would be great, it should be expected that google provide all device owners with basic functionality found in most core linux distributions for the last 20+ years. Not including an option for basic user utilities ( ssh / wget or curl / most of what is included in busybox, a fairly powerful common shell such as bash or similar ) , that most non-root accounts have on practically all systems, limits the freedom of expression and ability to create that users have come to expect from a GNU Linux distribution.
While root can be enjoyed on many devices, this is often only available to a small segment of the population who either pays a significant amount more for a unlocked device with a free bootloader, or spends a significant amount of time trying to root their device. Android does seem to provide a small set of simple userland utilities such as ls, cat, but not much beyond that. This is a request to provide a set of utilities similar to what is found on most any common Linux distribution.
While their is some concern for manufacturers or communication companies to lock their users devices down, there should be no concern allowing basic utilities on all android devices. To be specific, what harm does allowing somebody to download a file through a terminal using wget or curl, or to ssh into a host , or the phone itself? Similar functionality to these kind of operations are provided to developers in the form of the Android SDK, and or libraries and programs that can be installed on all android platforms. However having simple system shell utilities is quite different that writing an application. Then there should be no harm in making them more accessible to the Android community, in said form. Finally the communications companies will benefit from increased usage, and therefore data billings from providing these features.
This petition requests that Google compile / create / maintain / distribute a set of common linux shell utilities to be included with the device, or provided through the play store for all Android versions moving forward. The people who are signing this petition believe that any owner should be able to use common *nixy functionality on any personally owned android device, regardless of device manufacturer or communication company.
Furthermore, we believe that by creating a standard distribution for these tools will reduce the effort of many people doing the same thing in their own time. That a standard will improve the tools themselves, and improve the Android experience to the community at large.
Google Android has stood on the back of giants, and taken the Linux kernel and wrapped a nice system and SDK around it, with the exception of removing some of the core functionality included in most any Linux system. Thus Android is significantly limiting the freedom of users. This is a proposal for the middle ground, which will allow a better system for everyone, even people who have no root or unlocked device.
Finally I Had a look at the kbox project, I think this sentence from their site underscores the challenge users face:
"Android is not Linux, as Google repeatedly tells us — and getting ordinary Linux desktop utilities to work in Android can be a chore, to say the least."
Hi @sual, I believe change.org is having some issues with their servers the past few days. Sorry for the dead link. I re-posted above and found it working. I also pasted the petition arguments above. It is my belief that if enough people desire a feature, then it is reasonable to ask Google to provide such a feature. I think it's reasonable to create a petition for something you believe in. Finally I appreciate your feedback, and have considered your point of view.
Saul Goodman said:
I couldn't read your petition because the link is bad.
But I don't know why this is something you feel is owed to you by Google. I agree that it'd be useful, but it's totally not something I'd expect to be part of a mobile platform at all. It's clearly something you could make on your own. If existing solutions require root, it's in part because that makes it easier or because their creators assume that everyone has root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Finally, another link in case the copy link from the change.org platform is broken.
https://www.change.org/p/google-inc...-linux-shell-comands-for-the-android-platform
Incredibly few Android users root. And Android is not a traditional Linux distribution; it's a mobile OS that happens to use the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux distributions contain all these common tools because large essential portions of them are written in scripting languages and because they are needed for operation of the system. These things are simply superfluous in Android.
Google hasn't removed any functionality from a Linux distribution in the building of Android. They build a totally different system using Linux as the kernel. and have no need to include other separate components that comprise a standard Unixlike environment Just like all kinds of other embedded devices do. In this sense, Linux is a commodity OS kernel that competes with other open-source and proprietary ones. Furthermore, Android in particular depends on non-POSIX mechanisms like wakelocks and SELinux and uses an unPOSIXlike approach to isolate different apps (different uid per app).
I suggest you start writing code or organize a project and recruit developers to build this.
@sual Developers have already built plenty of Android binaries. I can build em. Look here: http://dan.drown.org/android/ . There are busybox sets all over the play store. The problem remains that they are usually crippled if installed without root. Crippled beyond the point of what you can do with a user account in most Linux environments. I thought the desire for this would be greater, but maybe I'm just an odd fish. I should save up and look for a platform that meets my wants and needs.
If tools running as a non-root user on Android seem more crippled than a non-root user on a typical Linux distribution, it's because Android uses a different UID per app for isolation purposes. Which is a good thing. Hence the existence of the "system" user on Android, accessible via adb, which has many more permissions than available to any particular app. Making even this set of permissions more widely available to apps would be a security nightmare, there's a reason you have to deliberately turn on developer mode then again enable ADB, and a reason why you (afaik) have to have root if you want to enable ADB over wifi on the device itself.
With that said, you should be able to package your own tools and run them via the adb user on any Android device, no?

[App] Proposal - Android TV web console

I just got a Shield TV, and I love it. I'm probably going to root it tonight to tinker further.
One issue I have with it is how annoying it is to configure, side-load apps, upload files to, etc. I'd love to have a web console for it, and I'm willing to do most/all of the heavy lifting for the front-end and server-side web development perspective. I'm going to need help on other fronts, however.
I'm a full-stack web developer. Most of what I've done professionally is PHP, but I'm not married to that. I'm also pretty good at configuring apache/nginx/ha-proxy/etc. Though once upon a time, I wrote front-end applications in Java and C++, that's ancient history, and I don't really have time to re-learn those skills and the Android SDK. Also, I'm not much of a designer, so unless I'm just using a pretty stock framework like Bootstrap, I'll need someone else to provide the art.
What I'm envisioning is an app that we can have in the play store that has a very simple UI to:
- install an SSH server
- install bash
- install web server/app server
- install DDNS client
- launch server on boot
- check server for new versions of the software it installed
Stuff I want the web interface to do:
- install/uninstall apps (file submission, URLs, etc.)
- 1-click installs of common things people want (Kodi, Amazon Prime Video, etc.)
- start/stop sshd
- manage mounting/unmounting NFS/AFS/CIFS/etc. shares (is this even possible on Android?)
- restart the device
- configure most settings on the device, including some hidden stuff
- file management
So, what I can do:
- script the download/install/upgrade of stuff on already rooted box in bash
- write back-end web code in PHP, Python, or Go
- write HTML/CSS/JS for front-end
What I need help with:
- writing the Android TV app to trigger the install script
- some help understanding/bootstrapping the process (what's installed by default on Android? What's the minimum we can get away with? Do we need Python?)
- someone to design the app (honestly, this can wait until we've got a baseline functionality if we like)
Anyone interested in joining me?
I'm leaning towards Go for the web app, because the binary can (in theory) be deployed standalone, and can be its own web server, obviating the need for apache or nginx or whatever. Also, performance and memory utilization -- PHP and Python are fairly expensive to run, and this is a really minor background thing.
This would be open source on Github.
While I unfortunately don't have a machine to helpwith code, nor the time for the code, I thought I'd give you a dev/modders look on the possibility/dificulty of things. Please don't think that I am discredditing this idea, in fact, I like it. Just want to passibly help you consider dev order and dificulty oy each item as listed, and hopefully add my own as others may have interest.
- install/uninstall apps (file submission, URLs, etc.) <-- Would be pretty easy. Users should provide apks, or you'll need a site that stores a lot of them.
- 1-click installs of common things people want (Kodi, Amazon Prime Video, etc.) <-- Similar to last point. You'll have to have a mirror of updated apks, weather you or another host provides it. You'll probably need a web scraper if going to an external host.
- start/stop sshd <-- I suggest dropbear, even if it's not my cup of tea. It can be easily found in other apps and should find code in open source ones to get you started.
- manage mounting/unmounting NFS/AFS/CIFS/etc. shares (is this even possible on Android?) <-- can be done. Check Kodi or other open source apps for code, though there are usually caviats to each approach. Luckly Android has fuse in most kernels these days.
- restart the device <-- Very easy
- configure most settings on the device, including some hidden stuff <-- Gonna be a long process, but you can probably reverse engeneer the apks and parse the XML files for a shortcut.
- file management <-- Super easy. Use the ssh server, or adb connection.
Over all, I think a lot of this is possible. Luckly these machines have the beef for a web server, and several are ported last I checked, though they may be out of date. Even still, check their codebase for a massive head start as they are mostly required to keep open source by licence (Apache excluded, though some still are). I would also suggest these features as they would be somewhat easy to imprement once the base file management is started, and would broaden the scope to bring in more users, support and interest, and hopefully devs.
-Rom Manager for emulators.
Mass File Renamer based on Filebot (Both are java, so should not be TOO hard to port) as many buy this box for Kodi.
I'll think of more.
I'm not an app dev, though I do rom modding and sometimes porting, and I can offer insite to things, so if you have questions on specifics, please pm me. If I get some free time, and a dev machine, I'll let you know antd get things going in the right direction. May also want to, once this idea is flushed out, post something in a more general android TV/ App Development thread for cleanness and to get devs on board (don't post in dev till there is code to show on github though please.
Something like remix os would be nice, this x1 has a lots of power
Sent from my trltetmo using Tapatalk
This is a great idea. This device is in serious need of developer attention. Im not a dev at all but Ive gotten pretty familiar with this device and Android OS in general, especially after spending so much time digging around trying to make android things happen that apparently were not indended for Android TV. I will be more than happy to be a tester and keep up so as to offer any ideas and some of the ways Ive found to do stuff.
@kdb424 - Thanks for the info. I'm working on a prototype right now. First build is going to list a bunch of stuff from the setting status, and allow you to reboot the device. I'll post the Github repo when I have that.
Great ideas!
There is a tool sorta in development already that does a lot of this (I've mentioned it on the Shield Zone a couple of times)
https://sites.google.com/site/nvidiashieldtvutilityapp/home/
My main needs (personally) is a means to move files to and from and my current solution is a free FTP server that works even when the Shield TV is sleeping.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theolivetree.ftpserver
... works very well despite having to side load, has a terrible interface, etc. Set and forget. What's great is, I can use my file-manager-on-steroids Directory Opus to manage files since it is a standard FTP connection.
@darkuni - Yeah, I saw that, but I've got no Windows PC's in the house -- 2 Macs, a Chromebook, a Linux server, phones and tablets. I'm an old-school UNIX guy, and Windows doesn't strike my fancy. Plus, it seems like the sort of thing a web app is best for. No need for a fat client.
darkuni said:
Great ideas!
My main needs (personally) is a means to move files to and from and my current solution is a free FTP server that works even when the Shield TV is sleeping.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theolivetree.ftpserver
... works very well despite having to side load, has a terrible interface, etc. Set and forget. What's great is, I can use my file-manager-on-steroids Directory Opus to manage files since it is a standard FTP connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that I'll give it a go. I use ES file manager currently but it closes the server when you exit the app. Will also try this on a couple of FireTV Sticks I have dotted around the house as Kodi boxes :good:

Linux On Dex - First Impressions

So, I am at work and I showed off Linux on Dex to some other Developers and Engineers here.
Impressed they were, but it's time to really dig in.
Here is what I love about it on first look:
Great to have a fleshed Linux experience on my phone
Great dev tools come with the image (IntelliJ and also Visual Studio Code and more)
Has plenty of apps to get you started and it's pretty thoughtful
Looks great at 1920x1080 as well as 2560x1440 resolutions on a monitor
Switching between Dex and Ubuntu is pretty snappy
Things I didn't like:
Just a LITTLE bit laggy sometimes
Need to either use ARM compiled apps or compile them yourself
The Default 10GB partition size was too small, so I would suggest using 15GB at least, after updates/upgrades (Ubuntu OS updates that is), you'll still have about 35% free space with 15GB disk
You cannot "install" this on the SDCard, only internal memory, so keep that in mind if you have the 128GB model and tons of apps
Once installed, you cannot delete the 3GB+ zip file you downloaded, so there is that wasted space as well (ok, I have not tried REALLY hard to delete it yet, but Google Files won't delete it, nor do I know the repercussions of deleting this file too)
I'm still trying to work out how to access the files on the device (outside the Linux container), not sure if it is possible, but I have not had a lot of time with it as of now
BONUS!!
When you are not in Dex mode (normal handset mode), you can still launch Linux on Dex, but you cannot get the full desktop experience.
Click on the Terminal icon under the RUN button and you can drop into the Ubuntu Shell and still use commands (like SSH-ing to servers using your certs and stuff).
Of course, the down side, small screen. Hey, in a pinch, when I am on the road and needs to SSH into an AWS instance and run a couple commands, I won't complain!!
All in all, I think this will be great for Dev's to play with, not sure how useful it REALLY will be, but I know from a DevOps/Architect/Engineer, it's nice to have as a backup to be able to actually take care of things without having to drag out the whole laptop.
All this, with a $20 adapter.
Any other thoughts for those that have used it?
Hello friend, I have mine installed on my 128gb Sdcard.
How did you get it on your SD Card?
Thanks!
Talderon said:
How did you get it on your SD Card?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Move the file from LoD folder to the SD card and reassign the file location in the Linux on Dex app, it worked for me but moved it back to internal storage to ensure best performance .
My impression? They will poorly maintain it and I suspect it will be discontinued without any real notice. Registration was broken for well over a week before signups ended. You cannot get in contact with anyone from the team. Care doesn't even know it exists.
I am yet to find a use case that improves upon remote access to an Ubuntu 18.04 VM running on a cloud or at home, but I'm not a developer.
Perhaps if you are stuck somewhere without an Internet connection and feel like coding somewhere in the mountains or in the jungle.. But then you would need a handy monitor, keyboard, mouse and a power source..?
I think I can sum this up in one simple sentence - "Because I can..."
It's like having linux on a PS3, because it could.
Haven't had a chance to use it yet but looks promising. That doesn't mean it will be supported very well, time will tell.
Hardware wise it should work very well, and there is ALWAYS a good reason to have a handy (mostly) self-contained PC with you in case you CAN'T access the net...
Would be great to get an idea of some real life use cases..
Would be very happy to see this project pick up some community developer attention, the platform is only as good as the tools developed for it.
In the absence of an official LoD forum for developers perhaps that community should be developed here.
p33l05 said:
In the absence of an official LoD forum for developers perhaps that community should be developed here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://developer.samsung.com/forum/board/thread/list.do?boardName=SDK&searchSubId=0000000051
I got this installed on my 8GB Note 9 today. I didn't get registered for the beta, but download the app and the Ubuntu image and got it all up and running today. My only complaint so far is it won't run full screen on Dex. That may be because I'm running the Pie Beta. Not sure how it operates on Oreo Dex.
I'll play around with it more later. I basically just plugged into my monitor and opened it up today.
Well, here is a real-life use case that saved me a TON of time and effort.
I set up the Linux on Dex with many tools and configs I need to be able to do my work (Sr. DevOps Architect/Engineer) on my AWS servers. I had an instance that was having some issues and was notified via the monitoring platform and was able to get my phone out, run the Ubuntu Shell and SSH/Fix the issue without ever having to pull out the laptop and tether it while on the train headed home.
There ARE some use cases where this will come in handy, but I do agree that these are real "edge" cases too. No "normal" user will ever really find this helpful.
Mr. Orange 645 said:
I got this installed on my 8GB Note 9 today. I didn't get registered for the beta, but download the app and the Ubuntu image and got it all up and running today. My only complaint so far is it won't run full screen on Dex. That may be because I'm running the Pie Beta. Not sure how it operates on Oreo Dex.
I'll play around with it more later. I basically just plugged into my monitor and opened it up today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Full screen on oreo.. Have you tried Dex max app?
planning to install LoD and curious if it can actually decompile and recompile apk's as a laptop would..?! mostly I'm interested in Themes for Samsung.. using few apk as templates to swap files, images and recompiling the apk, will it be able and will it properly sign it ?! and if so which way should I go?! do I need to install java, SDK, plugin I saw there ?!
any advice would be great.. thanx..
Can you use any Type c to HDMI or has to be an special cable?
darkriff said:
Can you use any Type c to HDMI or has to be an special cable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you need powersupply as well in the adapter for it to work.

Categories

Resources