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Replacing an already very successful OS with a rewritten one, including a completely new kernel -- that would fundamentally break backward compatibility. And th

Replacing an already very successful OS with a rewritten one, including a completely new kernel -- that would fundamentally break backward compatibility. And therefore it simply doesn't happen. Only Apple could perhaps pull that off by forcing it on everyone by way of controlling the hardware base. Google and Microsoft don't have that amount of control.

Daub 2y ago
Agreed. RIP Blackberry and also Palm, who tried and failed to introduce new OSs.
Raqbit 2y ago
The Fuchsia team is working on a Linux compatibility-layer, named Starnix[1], which is much like WINE on Linux. This would allow Linux applications to run on Fuchsia as-if they were running on a Linux kernel. A massive amount of work, but less work than adapting every single existing application to run on Fuchsia. Back in 2022, there were signs[2] that Google was working on testing the Android Runtime (ART) on top of Starnix, by trying to get the clock app running on top of it. Most of this work has been done in private though, the tracking-issues mentioned in the article were quickly set to private after they were found. [1]: https://fuchsia.dev/fuchsia-src/concepts/starnix https://fuchsia.dev/fuchsia-src/concepts/starnix [2]: https://9to5google.com/2022/07/15/android-removes-fuchsia-code-starnix/ https://9to5google.com/2022/07/15/android-removes-fuchsia-co...
- cubefox 2y ago
  Interesting. I guess this isn't so impossible then. Still, it seems they would need a very strong will in the company, up to Sundar Pichai, to really commit to switch over Android to Fuchsia. Which likely requires a large and years-long developer effort until the switch can be made in a reasonably seamless manner. But the management will likely ask whether the advantages (better security?) are worth such an investment.
- bodqhrohro 2y ago
  > testing the Android Runtime (ART) on top of Starnix It reminds me how early Wayland compositors barely could ran on bare hardware and worked as X11 clients for testing purposes, hehe (many, like Weston or Cage, still can).

Daub 2y ago

Agreed. RIP Blackberry and also Palm, who tried and failed to introduce new OSs.

Raqbit 2y ago

The Fuchsia team is working on a Linux compatibility-layer, named Starnix[1], which is much like WINE on Linux. This would allow Linux applications to run on Fuchsia as-if they were running on a Linux kernel. A massive amount of work, but less work than adapting every single existing application to run on Fuchsia. Back in 2022, there were signs[2] that Google was working on testing the Android Runtime (ART) on top of Starnix, by trying to get the clock app running on top of it. Most of this work has been done in private though, the tracking-issues mentioned in the article were quickly set to private after they were found. [1]: https://fuchsia.dev/fuchsia-src/concepts/starnix https://fuchsia.dev/fuchsia-src/concepts/starnix [2]: https://9to5google.com/2022/07/15/android-removes-fuchsia-code-starnix/ https://9to5google.com/2022/07/15/android-removes-fuchsia-co...

cubefox 2y ago
Interesting. I guess this isn't so impossible then. Still, it seems they would need a very strong will in the company, up to Sundar Pichai, to really commit to switch over Android to Fuchsia. Which likely requires a large and years-long developer effort until the switch can be made in a reasonably seamless manner. But the management will likely ask whether the advantages (better security?) are worth such an investment.
bodqhrohro 2y ago
> testing the Android Runtime (ART) on top of Starnix It reminds me how early Wayland compositors barely could ran on bare hardware and worked as X11 clients for testing purposes, hehe (many, like Weston or Cage, still can).