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I'm hoping this means we will be able to run Linux binaries on ChromeOS at some point - I'm specifically interesting in being able to run Visual Studio Code (fo

I'm hoping this means we will be able to run Linux binaries on ChromeOS at some point - I'm specifically interesting in being able to run Visual Studio Code (for Linux) and some dev environments and use Chromebooks plus a Linux-compatible OS as my dev machine.

Laremere 3y ago
This is already a thing: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439?hl=en https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439?hl=en
- freedomben 3y ago
  I'm guessing GP means natively, not in a VM. I've been super grateful for the VM-based method, but I still prefer the native experience like that provided by Crouton[1]. With Crouton being "maintenance-only" now I share GP's hope that a similar thing will be possible and easy. [1]: https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton
jauntywundrkind 3y ago
Crostini should already host a fine vscode. https://chromeos.dev/en/linux https://chromeos.dev/en/linux ChromeOS seems to consider it an anti-goal for users to be using the OS like a general purpose OS. Crostini allows them to keep the rest of the system locked down, where-as just running vscode on ChromeOS directly would mean giving Vscode more unconstrained access.
- cbhl 3y ago
  IIRC Crostini requires certain hardware CPU features, so you need a Chromebook model that supports it. Most Chromebooks released after 2019, as well as select earlier models in the list in the Wiki https://chromeos.dev/en/linux/linux-on-chromeos-deep-dive https://chromeos.dev/en/linux/linux-on-chromeos-deep-dive
sillywalk 3y ago
Very doubtful as running random binaries under ChromeOS would defeat the entire security model for ChromeOS.
- calgarymicro 3y ago
  You can already sideload APKs on Chromebooks with developer mode enabled, so I don't see why they couldn't allow the same thing with Linux binaries.
  - sillywalk 3y ago
    The whole idea of the Chromebook is that its sort of an internet appliance that you is supposed to be automatically updated and secure, and if in doubt, rebooting will return it to a known good state. If ChromeOS can run any random thing it's just a normal Linux laptop at that point. That's why Developer mode isn't for the average buyer of a ChromeOS device, you have to hold down keys and specifically enable it after a big warning screen saying it will delete all data. The official ChromeOS Linux support is a container that is inside of a VM.
    - calgarymicro 3y ago
      I don't think the person you replied to was asking for it to be enabled out of the box. Them talking about using a Chromebook as a dev machine makes me think they'd be okay with having to enable developer mode to run Linux binaries.
      - sillywalk 3y ago
        My understanding is that is what developer mode allows you to do - treat a Chromebook as a regular laptop, install any Linux distro you wish to. ChromeOS isn't a general purpose Linux distro, so in order to actually run a lot of things you'd need to install all their dependencies anyways.
        calgarymicro 3y ago
moondev 3y ago
You can already launch docker containers, lxc containers and windows, linux and even macos via KVM from crostini. You can even run nested virt inside those vms. Curious what the motivation is that those options do not address. Is it mainly resource allocation concerns?

Laremere 3y ago

This is already a thing: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439?hl=en https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439?hl=en

freedomben 3y ago
I'm guessing GP means natively, not in a VM. I've been super grateful for the VM-based method, but I still prefer the native experience like that provided by Crouton[1]. With Crouton being "maintenance-only" now I share GP's hope that a similar thing will be possible and easy. [1]: https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton

jauntywundrkind 3y ago

Crostini should already host a fine vscode. https://chromeos.dev/en/linux https://chromeos.dev/en/linux ChromeOS seems to consider it an anti-goal for users to be using the OS like a general purpose OS. Crostini allows them to keep the rest of the system locked down, where-as just running vscode on ChromeOS directly would mean giving Vscode more unconstrained access.

cbhl 3y ago
IIRC Crostini requires certain hardware CPU features, so you need a Chromebook model that supports it. Most Chromebooks released after 2019, as well as select earlier models in the list in the Wiki https://chromeos.dev/en/linux/linux-on-chromeos-deep-dive https://chromeos.dev/en/linux/linux-on-chromeos-deep-dive

sillywalk 3y ago

Very doubtful as running random binaries under ChromeOS would defeat the entire security model for ChromeOS.

calgarymicro 3y ago
You can already sideload APKs on Chromebooks with developer mode enabled, so I don't see why they couldn't allow the same thing with Linux binaries.
- sillywalk 3y ago
  The whole idea of the Chromebook is that its sort of an internet appliance that you is supposed to be automatically updated and secure, and if in doubt, rebooting will return it to a known good state. If ChromeOS can run any random thing it's just a normal Linux laptop at that point. That's why Developer mode isn't for the average buyer of a ChromeOS device, you have to hold down keys and specifically enable it after a big warning screen saying it will delete all data. The official ChromeOS Linux support is a container that is inside of a VM.
  - calgarymicro 3y ago
    I don't think the person you replied to was asking for it to be enabled out of the box. Them talking about using a Chromebook as a dev machine makes me think they'd be okay with having to enable developer mode to run Linux binaries.
    - sillywalk 3y ago
      My understanding is that is what developer mode allows you to do - treat a Chromebook as a regular laptop, install any Linux distro you wish to. ChromeOS isn't a general purpose Linux distro, so in order to actually run a lot of things you'd need to install all their dependencies anyways.
      - calgarymicro 3y ago

moondev 3y ago

You can already launch docker containers, lxc containers and windows, linux and even macos via KVM from crostini. You can even run nested virt inside those vms. Curious what the motivation is that those options do not address. Is it mainly resource allocation concerns?