4 ms·

> Linux is literally the most used operating system on phone... So what happens if/when Google switches to Fuchsia on their phones?

ilovecaching 8y ago
At this stage, I’d say I’ll believe it when I see it. I don’t doubt that Google has the capacity, but replacing a kernel that works is fraught with peril, and it could very well be that Fuschia remains yet another Google research project.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
  I think the point is just that the Linux kernel is irrelevant to the Android operating environment. It could run on anything Google wants it to and may do so in the future.
- pjmlp 8y ago
  Then check Android repo, they are actively adding Fuchsia support.
  - cageface 8y ago
    What does it mean to add Fuschia support to the Android repo?
    - pjmlp 8y ago
      Means to enable Android userspace to run on top of Zirkon instead of Linux.
- vetinari 8y ago
  From what I've heard, Fuchsia is a "senior engineer retention project".
megous 8y ago
They can't. I mean they can on their phones. But that's a tiny percentage of the total Android HW. All the big SoC vendors would have to get on board and rewrite their milions of lines of their kernel code on top of Fuchsia. Android is also not just phones, but also on tablets, tv boxes, etc. This would just cause even more fragmentation in the Android ecosystem.
- pjmlp 8y ago
  Google Play Services access contract.
  - megous 8y ago
    Threats don't magically make the port a cheap or reasonable proposition to the SoC/smartphone vendors.
    - pjmlp 8y ago
      It is a business decision, take or leave it. I doubt very much that SoC/smartphone would bother to contribute to microG instead.
- ThrowawayR2 8y ago
  > All the big SoC vendors would have to get on board and rewrite their milions of lines of their kernel code on top of Fuchsia. Apple's PPC to x86 transition was successful, as was their Carbon to Cocoa transition. If you want device driver specific examples, Microsoft's Win9x to XP transition was successful, if lengthy, as was its transition to WDDM for video drivers. SoC and other hardware vendors go where the money is; they may grumble and drag their feet but they will make the transition if it's required of them.

ilovecaching 8y ago

At this stage, I’d say I’ll believe it when I see it. I don’t doubt that Google has the capacity, but replacing a kernel that works is fraught with peril, and it could very well be that Fuschia remains yet another Google research project.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
I think the point is just that the Linux kernel is irrelevant to the Android operating environment. It could run on anything Google wants it to and may do so in the future.
pjmlp 8y ago
Then check Android repo, they are actively adding Fuchsia support.
- cageface 8y ago
  What does it mean to add Fuschia support to the Android repo?
  - pjmlp 8y ago
    Means to enable Android userspace to run on top of Zirkon instead of Linux.
vetinari 8y ago
From what I've heard, Fuchsia is a "senior engineer retention project".

megous 8y ago

They can't. I mean they can on their phones. But that's a tiny percentage of the total Android HW. All the big SoC vendors would have to get on board and rewrite their milions of lines of their kernel code on top of Fuchsia. Android is also not just phones, but also on tablets, tv boxes, etc. This would just cause even more fragmentation in the Android ecosystem.

pjmlp 8y ago
Google Play Services access contract.
- megous 8y ago
  Threats don't magically make the port a cheap or reasonable proposition to the SoC/smartphone vendors.
  - pjmlp 8y ago
    It is a business decision, take or leave it. I doubt very much that SoC/smartphone would bother to contribute to microG instead.
ThrowawayR2 8y ago
> All the big SoC vendors would have to get on board and rewrite their milions of lines of their kernel code on top of Fuchsia. Apple's PPC to x86 transition was successful, as was their Carbon to Cocoa transition. If you want device driver specific examples, Microsoft's Win9x to XP transition was successful, if lengthy, as was its transition to WDDM for video drivers. SoC and other hardware vendors go where the money is; they may grumble and drag their feet but they will make the transition if it's required of them.