4 ms·

Android I have a computer in my pocket but I am not allowed to do even the most basic stuff I would like to do with it. Like using a shell to work on my files,

by TekMol 6y ago

Android I have a computer in my pocket but I am not allowed to do even the most basic stuff I would like to do with it. Like using a shell to work on my files, use git for version control and to sync to other machines, use vim to edit text ... the list goes on forever. Heck, I cannot even easily backup all of my data. Like the contacts for example. No way to read the files in which they are stored.

conradev 6y ago
Do you actually want to do those things on the go without a full size keyboard?
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- ScottFree 6y ago
  Sysadmins do.
chopraaa 6y ago
Not sure if you're joking or just ignorant. The computer in your pocket is not made to do any of that, similar to how the computer on your desk is not meant to make phone calls or count how many steps you've walked or tell you that there's a car accident 500 meters ahead.
- johnpaulkiser 6y ago
  Hi, we try to be neutral or friendly here on hn.
- yeah986 6y ago
  i think what he meant was that it would be easy for it to do these things, but Android doesn't let you do them.
yewenjie 6y ago
You can work on a shell, (and even have a full GNU/Linux installation) with all standard tools using Termux. Also, rooting your phone gives you access to all files, but I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea.
- TekMol 6y ago
  The question is how trustworthy you consider the guy who made termux. And if you would trust them to have full power over your operating system. I prefer more popular and proven providers like Debian. With rooting it is similar. You usually give full control over your machine to "someone from the internet" who provides you with the root mechanism.
  - jolmg 6y ago
    > The question is how trustworthy you consider the guy who made termux. Termux is open source. I fully agree with you on the one that provides the rooting mechanism, as I believe that's normally closed source.
    - TekMol 6y ago
      > Termux is open source Good luck on reading and vetting all that code. And then installing Android Studio (It is a beast!) to compile the code into an APK. And don't forget to repeat the two steps every time there is an update.
aiisahik 6y ago
Classic example of why companies need product managers to decide what problems to solve instead of leaving it up to the sysadmin.
lazyjones 6y ago
I don't use or condone Android (it's just on my backup phone), but have you checked out Termux? https://termux.com https://termux.com
jbhouse 6y ago
check out termux. it's a command line on android
29083011397778 6y ago
> Like using a shell to work on my files As others have mentioned, Termux is Free and Open-Source. You mentioned trust, but considering Termux is already open source, I'm not sure how the author could gain your trust. > use git for version control and to sync to other machines You got me with git, but Syncthing might solve the same problem for #2 - there's a FLOSS client available on F-Droid as well :) > use vim to edit text I'd assume Termux has a vim package, meaning you can stay open source for the entire stack. If it doesn't, then my mistake. > I cannot even easily backup all my data. Like the contacts Ignoring using a carddav server for to have them backed up all the time, you can easily back them all up in vcard format via Simple Contacts - an open source app availble on F-Droid. Hell, for the most part you can completely disable whatever you want, root or no. ADB can disable everything you don't want to run, including all the way down to Google Play Services. I can verify that, as I've done it myself on my BlackBerry KeyOne. It (mostly) can all be done, it just takes a little bit of looking. Like anything else with modern computing, the fun stuff is hidden away, and all we're presented with is the glossiest interface the OEM can shove in front of us. If there's anything that actually cannot be done via FLOSS software, I'd honestly love to hear it, because I'm drawing a blank at the moment.

by TekMol 6y ago

conradev 6y ago

Do you actually want to do those things on the go without a full size keyboard?

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
ScottFree 6y ago
Sysadmins do.

chopraaa 6y ago

Not sure if you're joking or just ignorant. The computer in your pocket is not made to do any of that, similar to how the computer on your desk is not meant to make phone calls or count how many steps you've walked or tell you that there's a car accident 500 meters ahead.

johnpaulkiser 6y ago
Hi, we try to be neutral or friendly here on hn.
yeah986 6y ago
i think what he meant was that it would be easy for it to do these things, but Android doesn't let you do them.

yewenjie 6y ago

You can work on a shell, (and even have a full GNU/Linux installation) with all standard tools using Termux. Also, rooting your phone gives you access to all files, but I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea.

TekMol 6y ago
The question is how trustworthy you consider the guy who made termux. And if you would trust them to have full power over your operating system. I prefer more popular and proven providers like Debian. With rooting it is similar. You usually give full control over your machine to "someone from the internet" who provides you with the root mechanism.
- jolmg 6y ago
  > The question is how trustworthy you consider the guy who made termux. Termux is open source. I fully agree with you on the one that provides the rooting mechanism, as I believe that's normally closed source.
  - TekMol 6y ago
    > Termux is open source Good luck on reading and vetting all that code. And then installing Android Studio (It is a beast!) to compile the code into an APK. And don't forget to repeat the two steps every time there is an update.

aiisahik 6y ago

Classic example of why companies need product managers to decide what problems to solve instead of leaving it up to the sysadmin.

lazyjones 6y ago

I don't use or condone Android (it's just on my backup phone), but have you checked out Termux? https://termux.com https://termux.com

jbhouse 6y ago

check out termux. it's a command line on android

29083011397778 6y ago

> Like using a shell to work on my files As others have mentioned, Termux is Free and Open-Source. You mentioned trust, but considering Termux is already open source, I'm not sure how the author could gain your trust. > use git for version control and to sync to other machines You got me with git, but Syncthing might solve the same problem for #2 - there's a FLOSS client available on F-Droid as well :) > use vim to edit text I'd assume Termux has a vim package, meaning you can stay open source for the entire stack. If it doesn't, then my mistake. > I cannot even easily backup all my data. Like the contacts Ignoring using a carddav server for to have them backed up all the time, you can easily back them all up in vcard format via Simple Contacts - an open source app availble on F-Droid. Hell, for the most part you can completely disable whatever you want, root or no. ADB can disable everything you don't want to run, including all the way down to Google Play Services. I can verify that, as I've done it myself on my BlackBerry KeyOne. It (mostly) can all be done, it just takes a little bit of looking. Like anything else with modern computing, the fun stuff is hidden away, and all we're presented with is the glossiest interface the OEM can shove in front of us. If there's anything that actually cannot be done via FLOSS software, I'd honestly love to hear it, because I'm drawing a blank at the moment.