Run Linux containers on Android, no root required

Post by realusername » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 9:02 AM UTC

vimredo wrote: post #17

I don't understand what this would be useful for. The Linux terminal app on Android (check Developer settings if you want it) already exists and it uses hardware accelerated virtualization, while this uses QEMU with TCG. The Linux terminal app also supports running a DE (No VNC - as in no VNC, not NoVNC - required!), has full shell, full root, all the features of Podroid, and hell, you could even swap out the termina…

Post by gbil » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 9:22 AM UTC

microtonal wrote: post #37

gbil wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is that the integrated linux terminal is not supported on all processors like snapdragon ones and also is not available on all manufactures like Samsung. Therefore this approach covers a much bigger audience.

I think it was only available on Google Pixel until recently. As far as I understand, some Samsung Exynos devices support it (e.g. Z Flip 7, non-US S26 with Exynos), but not Snapdragon devices, which don't seem to support non-protected VMs yet: Error code: java.lang.UnsupportedOperationException: Non-protected VMs are not supported on this device

Post by thrance » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 10:03 AM UTC

vimredo wrote: post #17

I don't understand what this would be useful for. The Linux terminal app on Android (check Developer settings if you want it) already exists and it uses hardware accelerated virtualization, while this uses QEMU with TCG. The Linux terminal app also supports running a DE (No VNC - as in no VNC, not NoVNC - required!), has full shell, full root, all the features of Podroid, and hell, you could even swap out the termina…

Post by m132 » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 10:22 AM UTC

j45 wrote: post #18

vimredo wrote: post #17

I don't understand what this would be useful for. The Linux terminal app on Android (check Developer settings if you want it) already exists and it uses hardware accelerated virtualization, while this uses QEMU with TCG. The Linux terminal app also supports running a DE (No VNC - as in no VNC, not NoVNC - required!), has full shell, full root, all the features of Podroid, and hell, you could even swap out the termina…

Sometimes the capability unlocks the possibilities.

Post by randomtoast » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 10:37 AM UTC

AlexeyBelov wrote: post #40

randomtoast wrote: post #38

I find it somewhat amusing that it uses QEMU to emulate Linux in order to create a container with restricted permissions, even though it is already running on Linux with restricted permissions. I get the point while it is designed that way, but still funny.

[flagged]