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How good can you develop, let's say something easy, for example some python + Postgres + node.js on a Chromebook like the Pixel Slate without rooting or removin

How good can you develop, let's say something easy, for example some python + Postgres + node.js on a Chromebook like the Pixel Slate without rooting or removing ChromeOS?

yathern 8y ago
Provided the Linux container system works well on it - it should be easily possible. Whether the UX is good for a developer workflow I can't be sure. Users at reddit.com/r/chromeos seem to be able to do some good dev work on crostini-enabled devices.
- dogma1138 8y ago
  You can’t run docker normally on ChromeOS you can run it on some chromebooks that support dual booting with something like GalliumOS, or rooting the machine and running your Linux distro in a container/chroot. Unless you are severely strapped for cash and can’t find the same low end chromebook hardware in a low end windows form factor that can be simply reinstalled over there is absolutely no reason to even consider using a chromebook for anything other than it was intended unless you are rooting it for a hobby. People abuse the fact that you can sometimes find them for sub $200 for $300-400 worth of hardware but it’s a hack on top of a hack to make it run anything.
  - mav3rick 8y ago
    Please check out r/crostini. Linux VMs now runs seamlessly on Chrome OS and can (or definitely will support) Docker.
  - moondev 8y ago
    I can run docker on my pixelbook just fine via crostini. Vscode as well.
  - izacus 8y ago
    Why do you need docker to develop "something easy" like the OP asks?
    - jedieaston 8y ago
      To have a Postgres instance and a web server without having to install them locally and screw with configuration. docker-compose and done.
    - diminoten 8y ago
      Oh, Docker is so easy, and especially in an environment like ChromeOS, I imagine it's by far the most canonical way to develop.
  - ghaff 8y ago
    The whole point of a Chromebook is simplicity. Except for maybe saving a couple hundred bucks (as you say)--which I'm guessing isn't really much of a good reason for most of the people doing this--it doesn't make a lot of sense. There's plenty of cheap generation or two back laptop hardware that you can reliably install Linux on and call it a day. If I want to do software development etc. I'll use my Linux laptop. If I just need something simple for travel, I'll take a Chromebook.
  - owaislone 8y ago
    Are you talking about the "old" ChromeOS or the new one with Linux app support? I think with Linux app support it shouldn't be hard to do this at all.
  - plexicle 8y ago
    This isn't true anymore. I'm using Docker on my Pixelbook right now. No hacks required.
- barake 8y ago
  Any Crostini supported device works fine. Obviously more RAM and better CPU means a better experience. I have a basic Acer with a Celeron and 4GB of RAM. Been running VS Code and node to develop React Native apps. Can even load the Expo Android app from the Play Store, no separate Android device required! Some Crostini info: https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/containers_and_vms.md https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/c...
pc86 8y ago
Anything that makes it harder to write node is IMO a net positive for society.
dogma1138 8y ago
Locally? You can’t really unless you are just looking for a text editor with markup.
- izacus 8y ago
  Not true, ChromeOS now has a Linux container stack with apt.
  - bubblethink 8y ago
    ChromeOS, yes, but pixelbook or the new slate run sub 5W fanless CPUs. It's a pretty steep price for the hardware that they ship.
- glenrivard 8y ago
  Not true. You have Android apps and GNU/Linux on device.
yjftsjthsd-h 8y ago
I've done Python webapp development on an unmodified Chromebook that supported Android apps via Termux. The only catch was that the network layer doesn't make 127.0.0.1 the same for Chrome and Android so I ended up testing in Android Firefox, which is hilarious but worked fine.
nsm 8y ago
Not sure about the slate, but I have a Pixelbook, which is my personal laptop, and the crostini Linux integration is great for development. Specifically, I use it for Rust programming, and have compiled a couple of C++ projects too. The Terminal app that comes with the Linux install is good, supports tmux etc. There is clipboard integration between the pixelbook host and the container. File sharing is also easy with the file manager being able to drag andd drop files in and out of the container. I can use Firefox inside the container, which is what I usually use to browse. Theoretically you have access to the lxc tool inside the top level container, so you could create multiple containers and possibly set up complicated networking setups between them, but I've not tried this.
neumann 8y ago
just get a surface pro

How good can you develop, let's say something easy, for example some python + Postgres + node.js on a Chromebook like the Pixel Slate without rooting or removing ChromeOS?

yathern 8y ago

Provided the Linux container system works well on it - it should be easily possible. Whether the UX is good for a developer workflow I can't be sure. Users at reddit.com/r/chromeos seem to be able to do some good dev work on crostini-enabled devices.

dogma1138 8y ago
You can’t run docker normally on ChromeOS you can run it on some chromebooks that support dual booting with something like GalliumOS, or rooting the machine and running your Linux distro in a container/chroot. Unless you are severely strapped for cash and can’t find the same low end chromebook hardware in a low end windows form factor that can be simply reinstalled over there is absolutely no reason to even consider using a chromebook for anything other than it was intended unless you are rooting it for a hobby. People abuse the fact that you can sometimes find them for sub $200 for $300-400 worth of hardware but it’s a hack on top of a hack to make it run anything.
- mav3rick 8y ago
  Please check out r/crostini. Linux VMs now runs seamlessly on Chrome OS and can (or definitely will support) Docker.
- moondev 8y ago
  I can run docker on my pixelbook just fine via crostini. Vscode as well.
- izacus 8y ago
  Why do you need docker to develop "something easy" like the OP asks?
  - jedieaston 8y ago
    To have a Postgres instance and a web server without having to install them locally and screw with configuration. docker-compose and done.
  - diminoten 8y ago
    Oh, Docker is so easy, and especially in an environment like ChromeOS, I imagine it's by far the most canonical way to develop.
- ghaff 8y ago
  The whole point of a Chromebook is simplicity. Except for maybe saving a couple hundred bucks (as you say)--which I'm guessing isn't really much of a good reason for most of the people doing this--it doesn't make a lot of sense. There's plenty of cheap generation or two back laptop hardware that you can reliably install Linux on and call it a day. If I want to do software development etc. I'll use my Linux laptop. If I just need something simple for travel, I'll take a Chromebook.
- owaislone 8y ago
  Are you talking about the "old" ChromeOS or the new one with Linux app support? I think with Linux app support it shouldn't be hard to do this at all.
- plexicle 8y ago
  This isn't true anymore. I'm using Docker on my Pixelbook right now. No hacks required.
barake 8y ago
Any Crostini supported device works fine. Obviously more RAM and better CPU means a better experience. I have a basic Acer with a Celeron and 4GB of RAM. Been running VS Code and node to develop React Native apps. Can even load the Expo Android app from the Play Store, no separate Android device required! Some Crostini info: https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/containers_and_vms.md https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/c...

pc86 8y ago

Anything that makes it harder to write node is IMO a net positive for society.

dogma1138 8y ago

Locally? You can’t really unless you are just looking for a text editor with markup.

izacus 8y ago
Not true, ChromeOS now has a Linux container stack with apt.
- bubblethink 8y ago
  ChromeOS, yes, but pixelbook or the new slate run sub 5W fanless CPUs. It's a pretty steep price for the hardware that they ship.
glenrivard 8y ago
Not true. You have Android apps and GNU/Linux on device.

yjftsjthsd-h 8y ago

I've done Python webapp development on an unmodified Chromebook that supported Android apps via Termux. The only catch was that the network layer doesn't make 127.0.0.1 the same for Chrome and Android so I ended up testing in Android Firefox, which is hilarious but worked fine.

nsm 8y ago

Not sure about the slate, but I have a Pixelbook, which is my personal laptop, and the crostini Linux integration is great for development. Specifically, I use it for Rust programming, and have compiled a couple of C++ projects too. The Terminal app that comes with the Linux install is good, supports tmux etc. There is clipboard integration between the pixelbook host and the container. File sharing is also easy with the file manager being able to drag andd drop files in and out of the container. I can use Firefox inside the container, which is what I usually use to browse. Theoretically you have access to the lxc tool inside the top level container, so you could create multiple containers and possibly set up complicated networking setups between them, but I've not tried this.

neumann 8y ago

just get a surface pro