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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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which linux phone is the most promising? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I want to donate to a linux phone. I believe in linux and I want a linux phone. Maybe we can use one in very few years as a normal daily driver. It's getting closer and closer every month.

I want to donate that we get there sooner. But which project? I'm following postmarket but I'm not sure if they are the most promising. What's your stance on this? To which project would you give your money to accellerate it?

Edit: I don't want to buy a phone. I want to support the phone os devs. Sorry for the bad wording.

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[–] aluminium 17 points 9 months ago (4 children)

I 100% agree.

Love it or hate it, Android is extremly fast, polished, stable and easy to use, not to mention it has gigantic library apps that are built to work perfectly with a touchscreen.

I honestly don't really get what there is to gain by using "Desktop Linux". I mean sure some proper Programs offer way more features than Apps but using them on a 6.5" Touchscreen sounds like pain.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I honestly don’t really get what there is to gain by using “Desktop Linux”.

More freedom I guess. I remember my n900 and how fun it was to just ssh into it and dig in my home directory, install apps with packet manger, edit config files with vi and so on. It really felt like having small Linux machine in my pocket. With Android everything is definitely more locked up but then again, I'm not sure what would I do if it was more open. Writing apps for Android is easier than for desktop (or just as easy), there are no more hardware keyboard phones so using terminal on them is terrible anyway and phones just work anyway so there's no need to mess with the configuration. Personally I mostly gave up on the 'Linux phone' idea and if I need any new features I will simply write cross platform app that runs on Android (for example with tauri).

[–] aluminium 5 points 9 months ago

Sounds a lot like the Android 4.X and 2.X days. Its unfortunate that Google over time has locked down Android more and more. I mean having the option to do wild stuff is better than not having it.

The only real usecase I could see is with a proper Desktop Mode like DEX on High end Samsung phones or Motorola's ready for. Where you can plug your phone into a Monitor and attach a physical keyboard and mouse. In that case, yeah it would be neat to break out of the Android jail.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

I honestly don’t really get what there is to gain by using “Desktop Linux”.

I don't think anyone actually want's desktop linux, just a free & completely open source phone OS, the only hope for which is a linux derivative.

It doesn't need to be competitive with a flagship phone experience. I think device capabilities have plateaued somewhat... I've been playing around with a 4 year old phone the last few weeks and it's supremely adequate for everything I need to do.

There are a myriad of potential uses for older devices.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

@aluminium @ExLisper i mean technically, apple is unix based and android is too, the unix-based OSes have clearly overtaken all the other proprietary systems that popped up in the last 30 years, so there's that

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Actually regarding the app department (caveat is that I have an iPhone looking to switch to android), there has been a huge wave of developers making apps for mobile Linux or making their apps compatible. So much so that someone like me (I download everything that’s shiny) has more than had his app needs met and exceeded by what has been released.

Actually my main reason for wanting mobile Linux to succeed is because these apps look and work so good. Especially the gnome ones, the app ecosystem alone makes mobile Linux desirable.

Honestly, even more so when you consider how mobile linux could potentially get Apple levels of cross-device integration (without the baggage), and the ability to have the same UI on your phone and computer. I want to use gnome and libadwaita apps everywhere lol.