Linux On Dex - First Impressions - Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Themes, Apps, and Mods

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.

Related

Linux?

Is ubuntu possible on our u8800?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN4c61ETCWg maybe, try it
Without having seen the youtube vid that d3xtr0 linked, I'll post this link:
http://androlinux.com/android-ubuntu-development/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-android/
sebgus said:
Without having seen the youtube vid that d3xtr0 linked, I'll post this link:
http://androlinux.com/android-ubuntu-development/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-android/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lit's the same source
It will probably work if this device supports "loop devices" whatever that is? anyone know or tried it succsessfully?
skifyr123 said:
It will probably work if this device supports "loop devices" whatever that is? anyone know or tried it succsessfully?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had no time to try it, maybe later in the week.
skifyr123 said:
It will probably work if this device supports "loop devices" whatever that is? anyone know or tried it succsessfully?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It supports loop device. I just tried to mount a loop device with a loop image and it worked.
EDIT: With flibblesan's r5 kernel but it should be supported by stock kernel anyway
You are aware that ubuntu has no proper support for touchscreens; even if it runs you won't gain anything by doing that. When I installed a linux a few months ago on another device it worked, then I was fascinated about one minute and then I decided that there is no use for it an deleted it eventually.
I just do not understand why it is so important to get a desktop-os running on a smartphone. Battery drains fast, no support for the radio etc.
XphX said:
You are aware that ubuntu has no proper support for touchscreens; even if it runs you won't gain anything by doing that. When I installed a linux a few months ago on another device it worked, then I was fascinated about one minute and then I decided that there is no use for it an deleted it eventually.
I just do not understand why it is so important to get a desktop-os running on a smartphone. Battery drains fast, no support for the radio etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not important, but funny and cool if it works (on this device). How did you do it?
Until recently I still had my old samsung-omnia-winmo6.5-phone. There was an app for linux available; you just had to install an imagefile to the sd-card. The fun did last for a minute and then I realized I cannot do anything with this small screen and that it was pretty much useless.
I think that a lot of people here will just read the topic and think "omg this is amazing, now I can have my desktop-os on the phone, great" and later they realize how much time they just wasted.
If it really is fun for you guys, I won't try and stop you
How about using linux programs? i think that it may be quite useful sometimes... Put honestly... it is just for funright now... but it may be helpful if we could dual boot.... maybe in the future
I got this working, it isn't that slow as you could imagine, firefox takes around 30 sec to start and load the front page. That said, the keyboard works but is way off and impossible to use (I push "d" and "f" shows up and so on).
if anyone understand this the keyboard will be fixed:
In VNC’s xstartup file: $HOME/.vnc/xstartup
You have to add the line export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1 before
/etc/X11/Xsession or gnome-session (in case you use GNOME)
Screenshot actually taken with an ubuntu tool, I have set the resolution to 1200*800 in the virtual enviriment.
Here is a video with Huawei Ideos X5 running Ubuntu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SaoneDtNqA&feature=BFp&list=WL01C152CD7D31A7C8&index=1
Will try this later tonight and let you guys know if it works. Just have to work first >.<
The significance of linux running is to have a backup operating system to use on the phone if the Oracle / Google dispute over Java begins to really disrupt the market.
Think also freedombox.org, your own personal, secure and anonymous cloud system as a refuge if a dictatorship emerges or particularly nasty rise of corporatism occurs.
At heart, our U8800's can easily be linux box server with up to 32Gb of onboard storage with wi-fi AND gsm network connections. Being battery operated, if the thought police decend upon your community, you could take it to another place, unknown to the nasty guys, and re-establish mesh network connection to get reports of civil rights abuses out to the rest of the world.
Reason enough to have the capability to run Ubuntu Server edition (or any other Linux Server flavour)?
If you're interested to see what's already possible, even within Android (Linux will deliver more power), install "File Expert" from the market to get your very own web file server, right there in your phone.
-- wrong post just ignore --
XphX said:
Until recently I still had my old samsung-omnia-winmo6.5-phone. There was an app for linux available; you just had to install an imagefile to the sd-card. The fun did last for a minute and then I realized I cannot do anything with this small screen and that it was pretty much useless.
I think that a lot of people here will just read the topic and think "omg this is amazing, now I can have my desktop-os on the phone, great" and later they realize how much time they just wasted.
If it really is fun for you guys, I won't try and stop you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didn't Found a better ubuntu boot-file, x5 faster, keyboard works, WIFI, pre-installed with many programs ( Open Office for work.. etc) easy to use with touch screen. here is how it works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUG9aC_tH5s
And the files/instructions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=962023

Webtop: Working Ubuntu programs plus small guide

Let me start off by saying I am not a developer. And Im not too familiar with Linux either. Just goes to show that this isnt too difficult
To get ubuntu on the Atrix please go here first:
[MOD] Full Linux (Debian) inside WebTop! v0.2.6 [2011/07/07] [14.15 GMT+2:00] - xda-developers
Follow the steps. Must have CMW installed, rooted etc.
I was unsuccessful with webtop2sd. You might have good results with it, but for me it didnt.
Once you flash this cmw file, reboot you phone and enter into webtop (if you need the HDMI hack, you will find that on XDA). You will now see 3 new icons. Leafpad, Lxterminal, and a penguin. Click on the penguin, and you it will say found image. Click ok.
If your unfamiluar with linux, this will look french to you. Once it launches (the first time after reboot will take some time, be patient). Hit enter, enter again and scroll down to Shells, then hit enter on Bash. Now this is where the fun begins.
Enter synaptic. If that doesnt work you might need to install it. apt-get install synaptic. After thats opened search for gnome-panel, right click and select "mark for installation". Hit apply and go for a coffee. This will take a long time, and make sure your on wifi. This is a huge download.
Here is a list of working applications so far :
Epiphany web browser
Epiphany IM
Evolution Mail
Iceweasle
AbiWord
GNU image manipulation
All of the games
Im working on getting usb-to-ethernet dongle working.I can see it, just cant get access to it.
Almost all of the pre-installed applications with gnome work. EXCEPT sound. This is driving me nuts. I am unable to find a sound driver (gstreamer) that works. If anyone here figures it out let me know. And if anyone out there have programs that work let me know. I can always add it to the list. Im very green to Linux, and just playing around at this point. Im no developer, and most of your questions can be answered on XDA forums.
I have the same setup, and you can add openoffice.org and geany packages to the "functional" list. I use openoffice's writer every day and have found no missing functions. Geany is working, but does not build and compile, so it's basically a color-coded text editor (still useful for note-taking my language classes). I did NOT use synaptic to get these. I simply used the bash script (in the same manner you described for your synaptic install) to apt-get install openoffice.org and geany respectively. Nice thread,
-omni
Where you able to get sound working??
g2tegg said:
Where you able to get sound working??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My sound through the Webtop is functional, yes. I'm not sure if you were talking about gnome-specific apps (I wouldn't know, because I'm not using gnome panel), but anything through mobile view or iceweasel (not including flash) plays stereo through the Webtop. I didn't do anything special to get it working, it always just has. I hope you figure out your problem.
-omni
With epiphany did you encounter a problem where it uses xulrunner-1.9.2 instead of xulrunner-1.9 and fails to start the gecko engine? The epiphany version that is available through synaptic after fixing apt-get dependencies and sources uses xul1.9 once and works right then uses xul1.9.2 every time after that and fails. Epiphany lists both xul versions as deps so i, unsuccessfully, tried to lock xul1.9 and install a fake xul1.9.2. Any help would be awesome.
I did manage to make Webtop2SD work after I created a 4 GB partition on my ExtSD through Webtop2sd partitioning tool.
Here's what I got working (installed through Synaptic):
XFCE4 (full suite)
OpenOffice
GIMP
EPDFViewer
Fillezilla FTP client
VLC Media Player (marginal results)
Ristretto Image viewer
ABE's Amazing Adventure (game with full working sound)
I was hoping to have some sort of ScummVM, MAME and SNES emulator to run, but unfortunately they don't even after a successfull install.
Cheers!
Rayan
Sent from my Atrix using Tapatalk
@ g2tegg
I know it's a bit late for commenting lol. And probably my post may be off-topic. But was your issue the <no sound coming from HDTV via HDMI> one?
I also had this issue in webtop going on for like 3 months (like flashing and reflashing webtop to no end), until I stumbled upon this Motorola forum:
h**p://supportforums.motorola.com/message/330591#330591
(had to mod link because I didn't reach the minimum amounts of posts to allow links -_-)
Basically, if you switch display resolution to anything other than 1280x720, sound will not redirect to HDTV. And as for me, after switching to 1280x720, I had to reboot my Atrix in order to finally have sound . No need to find for drivers.
My sound would work within the Webtop apps from Motorola. But if I wanted to use a Linux MP3 player, watch a video etc there would be no sound. Kept getting a gstreamer error.
Hi g2tegg,
I have Atrix with iBlur ROM. I installed the WebTopMOD zip file using CWM and have the folder with linux image in sdcard-ext. But when I reboot the phone and plg it in Atrix Lapdock I don't see the icons like: penguin etc.
Could you please help.
Got it working !!
katlimaal said:
Hi g2tegg,
I have Atrix with iBlur ROM. I installed the WebTopMOD zip file using CWM and have the folder with linux image in sdcard-ext. But when I reboot the phone and plg it in Atrix Lapdock I don't see the icons like: penguin etc.
Could you please help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to reflash the webtop and then the mod again. There is a thread in the developers area I believe called webtop mod v1 or something like that. When I get the chance I will try to dig it up. Driving in a snowstorm at the moment slightly hinders my searchability haha. Good ol Ontario I tell ya
quick question: are these persistent? can I make a desktop icon for these or do I have to apt-get them everytime?
seems counter intuitive to not be able to "hard" install the applications
V DidDy 210 said:
quick question: are these persistent? can I make a desktop icon for these or do I have to apt-get them everytime?
seems counter intuitive to not be able to "hard" install the applications
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You dont have to apt-get everytime. The installed applications are on either the phones hard drive or the SD card. Only thing you will have to do is start the gnome panel every session, which is easy enough.
g2tegg said:
You dont have to apt-get everytime. The installed applications are on either the phones hard drive or the SD card. Only thing you will have to do is start the gnome panel every session, which is easy enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah after tinkering with them for enough time I figured that out!
only question is how do I figure out where they are located on my phone? I can't find a DEBIAN folder anywhere on my device (sd or sd-ext) my webtopmod folder is on my internal storage btw
thanks for the response!
If you use webtopmod's debian chroot (the white shell) they'll be in the linuxdisk file, as it's actualy a filesystem in itself. You won't be able to 'directly' access them. I recommend switching to webtop2SD. I didnt' want to, but everything is native that way and most things run better anyways, I installed xfce4 and got rid of that stupid awn dock at the bottom and put in a little bar. Now it feels like linux!
My apps so far:
OpenOffice 3
XChat
rdesktop (doesn't work, keymap doesn't work)
gimp (not used yet)
Any other useful ones people know of? I don't need an email client... the phone's gmail app is sufficient enough, and if I need more support I'll just use gmail. Kind of wish I could get an updated firefox, or a tun/tap module so i could use hamachi.
Mgamerz said:
If you use webtopmod's debian chroot (the white shell) they'll be in the linuxdisk file, as it's actualy a filesystem in itself. You won't be able to 'directly' access them. I recommend switching to webtop2SD. I didnt' want to, but everything is native that way and most things run better anyways, I installed xfce4 and got rid of that stupid awn dock at the bottom and put in a little bar. Now it feels like linux!
My apps so far:
OpenOffice 3
XChat
rdesktop (doesn't work, keymap doesn't work)
gimp (not used yet)
Any other useful ones people know of? I don't need an email client... the phone's gmail app is sufficient enough, and if I need more support I'll just use gmail. Kind of wish I could get an updated firefox, or a tun/tap module so i could use hamachi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed chromium, and it's running smoother than firefox ever did. Haven't really had a reason to install anything else, but i think i'm gonna get fxce4 because the current dock at the bottom annoys me
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
^yeah after using it exclusively for the past day or so it's quite capable but I can also see the limitations of debian through chroot. I'd ideally like to get rid of the webtop all together and just have kde or gnome (i'm not picky, xcfe4 would work for me too)
but I'm assuming if I do webtop2sd I can have ubuntu with gnome installed no problem?
I went through the process of putting all of my gnuSTEP icons on the webtop and it's very much like my current gnuSTEP machine (supremely capable btw when using a debian core) I haven't run into any real problems using the chroot method, save for not being able to put shortcuts on the AWN bar and the occasional, but when I get my lapdock in the mail and start exclusively using this when I'm out and about I'll look into doing webtop2sd. I need to get a bigger sd card too, I have a 16 but I'd rather have a 32 external only for webtop and the 10 or so internal for android I don't listen to music on my android (I own a zune) so 10 should be plenty to just have apps and android
---------- Post added at 02:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:20 AM ----------
Alcapone263 said:
I installed chromium, and it's running smoother than firefox ever did. Haven't really had a reason to install anything else, but i think i'm gonna get fxce4 because the current dock at the bottom annoys me
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you use the jaunty hack to get chromium working?
I successfully installed chromium but every page loads for a second and then crashes. I didn't really look into the chromium hack (I don't think I use jaunty for anything and synaptic/apt-get can get all the repositories I need) but it seemed intensive especially to get flash.
I've found that while firefox has FANTASTIC flash support (like, really good and speedy, no chops) I just end up using konqueror for regular internet tasks. I can't seem to get it to install flash (I don't know how to install .deb packages) but it's speedy for other things and makes an excellent file manager
If you could get chromium without 2.3.5 i'd get it... but 2.3.5 offers what appear to be no benefits at all, correct?
Just kinda scared to have to rebuild from a bricked phone.
Trolling from my ATRIX 4G's XDA premium app, still on the gold medal winner of worst customer satisfaction for the second year in a row! Congrats!
I upgraded to 2.3.5 it has the new firefox, it runs fine from what I've seen
I'm trying to install synaptic by "apt-get install synaptic", but it shows several "Failed to fetch http://ftp.debian.org/debian/......" messages.
How can I fix this?

Terminal access via ssh

I am thinking of getting a Nexus 4 (or a Nexus 5 if such a thing appears in the not too distant future) as my first smartphone, with the eventual possibility of running Ubuntu for Android if and when it becomes available. However, for now the only capability I need the phone for is to be able to open up a Linux style command line terminal on the phone where I can ssh into a couple of other Linux based devices I have, via wifi, so I can run some "C" executables that I have written on these other devices. These other devices are running SSH servers. Is this doable? Do I need a special app or a special ROM, etc.
I assume you mean to run the C executable on the remote machine... not the phone itself?
If yes, then: YES, you can do that. And there are many ways to do it.
At the most basic, the only app that you would need is a Terminal Emulator app (several terminal apps are available for free... some are better than others). From that, you can do what you want. Any of the good ones will work just like any other Terminal on a PC.
But there are other apps that will make it easier because typing out commands, on a phone, isn't the funnest thing ever. Copy-pasting commands is an obvious way to make it easier...
But there are even easier ways than that...
ConnectBot (ssh-agent-patch) app would allow you to ssh into a remote host with a single tap (even using public-private key authentication if you want). Then you can run your ./command (or copy-paste it).
You can even VNC into a remote host and control it graphically (assuming a VNC server is running on the host machine).
You can even go the other way too... you can run an ssh server on the phone and access it from your PC.
Like all ssh capabilities, all of this can be done over the internet too, you aren't limited to WiFi LAN.
Also, on all of my file explorers (on all of my computers AND my Phones) I've made shortcuts for easy file sharing too (all using pub/private key authentication for security). Not only does that make file transfers super easy no matter what machine I have my hands on at the moment, but it also makes my desktop PC at home my own personal cloud server to my phone. Who needs dropbox?
Basically anything you can do with ssh on a computer, it can be done on an Android phone.
ps... if you re-compiled your C executables for the Android system... you could even run them natively on the phone.
iowabeakster said:
I assume you mean to run the C executable on the remote machine... not the phone itself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
Fantastic, thanks for the detailed answer. I wanted to know right away before I wasted my time, but now am googling around for all the details. I have a raspberry pi running Debian that I need to communicate with and it is headless (No monitor, keyboard, etc., just a wifi dongle) so this would be perfect. I also have desktop computers that run a bunch of OS's (Centos, Scientific Linux, Fedora, Ubuntu, etc) that I might want to connect to.
From what I understand, all of that can be done without modifying the phone (rooting, etc.), correct?
However, down the road I may want to try and root it anyway, because the bigger set of Linux commands offered by Busybox would nice. I have been putting off getting a smartphone because of the cost, but the Nexus 4 with something like straight talk is the same monthly price as my 400 minutes of just talk with Verizon, so it is time. The coverage and uptime with Verizon is really good, but the costs are just not keeping up with the times.
From what I understand, all of that can be done without modifying the phone (rooting, etc.), correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good question.
I don't know with absolute certainty what functions would require root (I always root right away... so I don't ever think about it... like you said... additional functions... and I forget about it).
Basic, ssh-client functions should not require root. Running the ssh-server on the phone, that I mentioned, certainly does require root though. I know that my Terminal Emulator and File explorer apps have root access, but root is not needed just for the ssh-client functions (I am pretty sure).
Rooting on the nexus 4 is pretty easy. Rooting does require the installation of a custom recovery (at least temporarily). That is something that sounds like it would take someone like a you only a few minutes to do (not counting the time you would likely spend reading about it before hand... and installing the android sdk on a PC). Certainly, no other mods other than rooting would be needed.
iowabeakster said:
good question.
I don't know with absolute certainty what functions would require root (I always root right away... so I don't ever think about it... like you said... additional functions... and I forget about it).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, I will probably just root the phone after using the phone for a while; I have zero experience with smartphones, plus I want to make sure that the phone works properly. The important thing is that it will do exactly what I need it for.
Last question. I see there are several guides for rooting and unlocking the bootloader.....Any recommendation of which one to use? I see that the one written by Jubakuba "Ultimate Nexus Root Guide" has pointers to urls that are broken (Therefore many critical steps are missing), and apparently it has been that way for quite a while.
I started looking for what I thought the best guide... but I gotta do some stuff... I will be back in a couple hours (hopefully with a good suggestion).
I will piece together a guide tomorrow morning from all the various "how-to" guides out there for you. So many of them are geared towards Windows users, and they start babbling about installing and removing drivers and stuff that you won't bother with in Linux. But I need sleep, right now. It'll just be some copying and pasting from a few of them out there. It shouldn't take long.
iowabeakster said:
I started looking for what I thought the best guide... but I gotta do some stuff... I will be back in a couple hours (hopefully with a good suggestion).
I will piece together a guide tomorrow morning from all the various "how-to" guides out there for you. So many of them are geared towards Windows users, and they start babbling about installing and removing drivers and stuff that you won't bother with in Linux. But I need sleep, right now. It'll just be some copying and pasting from a few of them out there. It shouldn't take long.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not necessary to go through all of that; I thought there was maybe one document that a lot of people were using. It is really up to me to start reading up on the subject.
Just bit the bullet and placed an order for the Nexus 4 before it is out of stock again.
Found some simple instructions for unlocking and rooting the Nexus 4:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/nexus-4-rooting-roms-hacks/224861-guide-nexus-4-unlock-root.html
Also found better descriptions of what the various terms floating around mean and what each piece of software does, however it is on the Galaxy S III section of this forum, so obviously I am not going to follow any of the procedures listed:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1927113
Here's my favorite instructional...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37823933#post37823933
iowabeakster said:
Since googling around to find a good "How to" for Android noobs, I kind of felt like I could maybe help a few other folks out there too So, I went ahead and made my own "How to".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice.
I just ran across this, and thought about you... looks like a nice new SSH client. I've never used it. But Jerry at Android Central is a pretty serious Linux nerd, so I do put some stock in his recommendations. Just thought I'd throw it out there for you to see.
http://www.androidcentral.com/apps-week-juicessh-7x7-audible-android-and-more
iowabeakster said:
I just ran across this, and thought about you... looks like a nice new SSH client. I've never used it. But Jerry at Android Central is a pretty serious Linux nerd, so I do put some stock in his recommendations. Just thought I'd throw it out there for you to see.
http://www.androidcentral.com/apps-week-juicessh-7x7-audible-android-and-more
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I had the phone for a couple of weeks and I think I turned it on twice. I really didn't get addicted and start to install apps until I used the GPS feature for a long trip I took yesterday. First time using a GPS....Yeah, just a little behind the times.
So, without rooting, today I installed the following apps which gives me everything I need:
ConnectBot. Works great and allows me to ssh to my Linux boxes.
Terminal Emulator. For basic command access.
FreebVNC. Has a secure tunnel feature built in, so you don't have to go through the whole two step process of setting up a tunnel and then running VNC through the tunnel. Also, it has a zoom feature, access to special keys and mouse emulation.
Wifi Analyzer. Gives you access points, signal strength, etc. There was another app that I added to that app to easily connect to the access points.
Fing. Network Info like mac addresses, etc.
Still will root eventually and install Busybox. However, now that I can access my raspberry pi remotely, my priority is to finish writing my software programs and building electronics for a project that uses that little ARM computer.
pjc123 said:
I am thinking of getting a Nexus 4 (or a Nexus 5 if such a thing appears in the not too distant future) as my first smartphone, with the eventual possibility of running Ubuntu for Android if and when it becomes available. However, for now the only capability I need the phone for is to be able to open up a Linux style command line terminal on the phone where I can ssh into a couple of other Linux based devices I have, via wifi, so I can run some "C" executables that I have written on these other devices. These other devices are running SSH servers. Is this doable? Do I need a special app or a special ROM, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For a ssh client, try ConnectBot. I have been using this since the G1 came out for work (Sys Admin) and home.
For a better keyboard, check out Hacker's Keyboard.
SpookyTunes said:
For a ssh client, try ConnectBot. I have been using this since the G1 came out for work (Sys Admin) and home.
For a better keyboard, check out Hacker's Keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mentioned above, I already installed ConnectBot and it has nice features. However, I am interested in the keyboard (keys in the right place, Crtrl/Tab/Esc keys, etc.), so I will be installing that next.
Yep, ConnectBot is the old standard (if there is such a thing in Android world). I use it.
I've pretty much always used Jack Palevich's Terminal Emulator app. Very small and lightweight. It's always done everything I've ever needed to do. But there are many Terminal apps to choose from. I usually stop trying apps, when I find one that meets my needs, and stick with it until it doesn't... I started using that Terminal my first week with my first Android, after trying a couple of others. I've never used anything since.
Hacker's keyboard is an awesome suggestion! Thanks man! How have I survived without this!
For VNC purposes (which I rarely use) I use androidVNC. I've never tried anything else since I use it so rarely. It seems to do everything I can imagine it should. Mostly I use it to mess with my wife's head with some "ghost in the shell" pranks when she is using her laptop. She will scream from the living room, "WTF!!!! My computer just told me it's going to eat my brains tonight!"
And I'm just innocently sitting there reading emails on my phone "That is strange, honey."
iowabeakster said:
For VNC purposes I use androidVNC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually looked at androidVNC first due to the amount of reviews and positive ones, but I liked the extra features of FreebVNC even though it violates my following policy. I have found, just like shopping at Amazon, that in general the quantity and quality of reviews quickly narrows the search dramatically from the huge database of products/apps. The only side effect of this is to weed out excellent apps that are new and could be excellent, but just like major operating system updates, with anything new I let them weed out the bugs first.
iowabeakster said:
I've never tried anything else since I use it so rarely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree with you that I don't ever see myself using the VNC client on the smartphone again other than just as a novelty. What does intrigue me is putting a VNC server on the smartphone. I wonder if there would be a way to use an external computer's mouse and keyboard to control the gui portion of the smartphone while displaying it on the computer's large screen, the problem being that the smartphone is touch based; that is something that I could see using.
iowabeakster said:
I use it to mess with my wife's head with some "ghost in the shell" pranks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me and a friend used to do similar pranks at work, messing each others displays, keyboards, etc. I think the best non-computer prank that someone did to me while I was on vacation was to line one of my desk drawers with plastic and fill it full of goldfish. The best prank that some colleagues did, was to inflate a weather balloon in our departmental director's office and turn the nozzle away from the door so he couldn't get in.

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.

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