Google Is Building A Linux Terminal App For Native Android Development - Here's Why That's Huge

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Google is processing different Linux terminal app.
• The app runs a afloat Debian environment.
• Developers will beryllium capable to build Android apps connected device.

For immoderate time, Android has had entree to a terminal app that ran a full-blown, text-only Linux environment. This app is enabled via Android's developer options characteristic and makes it imaginable for users to tally Linux commands (even SSH).

From Google's perspective, that wasn't enough.

Also: 5 Linux terminal apps amended than your default

But it seemed a spot overseas erstwhile they went mum connected nan Linux Terminal app astatine nan yearly I/O developer conference. Even pinch that silence, a spot of caller news has surfaced that points to Google releasing a caller return connected nan Linux terminal app, 1 that targets developers.

Build straight connected Android devices

This caller Linux terminal app will let developers to build Android apps straight connected Android devices. That's a immense alteration from having to build connected emulators moving connected apical of a desktop OS.

Also: 5 amazingly productive things you tin do pinch nan Linux terminal

The caller Linux terminal app uses nan Android Virtualization Framework to footwear into a Debian image moving connected a virtual machine. This caller terminal app provides a full-blown Linux improvement situation that allows developers to leverage nan devices they request to build autochthonal apps.

That includes Android Studio.

There's 1 hiccup successful nan plan

Even pinch autochthonal support added for on-device Android app development, Android Studio isn't disposable for ARM-based CPUs, which intends it cannot tally successful nan Linux improvement situation connected an Android device. To resoluteness that issue, Google will person to adhd support for ARM successful nan Linux type of nan Android Studio IDE.

Also: How to link Linux and Android - and why you should

Along pinch nan improvement situation successful this caller terminal, there's a large prize for nan ride. It's been reported by Android Authority that nan existent Android Canary build (released astatine nan extremity of July) includes support for Linux GUI apps. The study states they were capable to tally respective GUI apps, including Chromium, GIMP, and LibreOffice (on a Pixel 8 Pro).

So not only is Google preparing to make it moreover easier for developers to create and build apps straight connected Android devices, but it is besides making it imaginable to tally full-blown Linux graphical apps (even games). Imagine nan possibilities, particularly erstwhile docking an Android instrumentality to a desktop monitor, mouse, and keyboard.

Also: The first 5 Linux commands each caller personification should learn

This could besides beryllium a cardinal constituent successful Google's merging of Android and ChromeOS, which could let developers to build apps for nan mixed level that would entreaty to accepted desktop users, powerfulness users, and gamers.

Release date

There's nary denotation arsenic to erstwhile this characteristic will rotation out, but you tin stake it will deed Pixel devices first.

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