Hey everyone! I've got a Samsung S23 that supports Dex, allowing me to connect it to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. I'm wondering if there's an easy way to get a full Linux environment running on it. I tried using Andronix with Ubuntu, but it seems to be a bit broken—I can't update it, and the browser doesn't work properly. I'm looking for something more user-friendly since my goal is to use Git and Kicad on my phone. For browsing and other tasks, I can use the regular apps available on my device.
2 Answers
Termux is a great starting point! It provides a Debian-like environment even on non-rooted devices, but it’s not like a full Linux distro. If you want to get close to a desktop experience, try using Proot-distro. There’s also a guide on installing a graphical environment via Termux's wiki, which could help with that desktop feel you’re looking for!
Just a heads up, Android is technically a Linux OS since it runs on the Linux kernel. But if you want to use a full Linux distro, you'll need to look into alternatives like Termux with Proot. It's not a complete Linux environment, but you can get some functionality. If you need something closer to a full Linux experience, you might want to check out chrooting on a rooted device, but it depends on your phone's kernel. For Git, you can usually get that working in Termux, and Kicad may need Proot to run properly. Good luck!
Absolutely! Plus, in Termux, you can use bash scripts with ADB commands, which makes it even more powerful than just a standard Linux setup.