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What is it that you want to install on ChromeOS that you are unable to? All of the usual Linux and open-source stuff works fine on the built-in Linux environmen

by ufmace 5mo ago

What is it that you want to install on ChromeOS that you are unable to? All of the usual Linux and open-source stuff works fine on the built-in Linux environment on it. Possibly even a little better than MacOS in some cases, since you don't need to worry about Apple app signing. There's not literally nothing you can't do, but the list is a lot shorter than most people think, especially those who haven't really tried ChromeOS in a decade and think they're all a glorified web browser on $200 hardware.

traderj0e 5mo ago
You can technically run anything you want on both without resorting to hacks, it's just a question of how annoying it is.
- nolist_policy 5mo ago
  On a Chromebook you can install the Linux Dev VM with 5 clicks in the settings and get a fully featured Debian VM.
  - traderj0e 5mo ago
    I'm willing to bet it's easier to set up a Linux VM on a Chromebook than on a Mac. But the other side is that anything not explicitly requiring Linux will work natively in macOS, where you also get a nicer terminal. Like I've not needed a Linux VM in years, and the author doing web dev probably won't either.
    - QuercusMax 5mo ago
      pretty dang easy to run a Linux container on MacOS using Colima (https://github.com/abiosoft/colima https://github.com/abiosoft/colima).
      - bigyabai 5mo ago
        Relative to native Docker and Crostini, my experience using Colima at work was like pulling my own teeth out.
      - traderj0e 5mo ago
        Crostini is built into the Chromebook, vs macOS where I hear a different container solution every time someone asks about it. Colima is a new one to me. Maybe it works great and the others do too, but full 1P support is a step up.
      - pjmlp 5mo ago
        Yes, however most of us don't really need to use Linux containers for our work, plain traditional UNIX works just fine.
lukan 5mo ago
But if I don't want to have to use a VM? Well, then you can only put it in dev mode and use chromebrew. Which I am glad exists, but even installing node can be a pain and the way to get it running changed over the years.

by ufmace 5mo ago

traderj0e 5mo ago

You can technically run anything you want on both without resorting to hacks, it's just a question of how annoying it is.

nolist_policy 5mo ago
On a Chromebook you can install the Linux Dev VM with 5 clicks in the settings and get a fully featured Debian VM.
- traderj0e 5mo ago
  I'm willing to bet it's easier to set up a Linux VM on a Chromebook than on a Mac. But the other side is that anything not explicitly requiring Linux will work natively in macOS, where you also get a nicer terminal. Like I've not needed a Linux VM in years, and the author doing web dev probably won't either.
  - QuercusMax 5mo ago
    pretty dang easy to run a Linux container on MacOS using Colima (https://github.com/abiosoft/colima https://github.com/abiosoft/colima).
    - bigyabai 5mo ago
      Relative to native Docker and Crostini, my experience using Colima at work was like pulling my own teeth out.
    - traderj0e 5mo ago
      Crostini is built into the Chromebook, vs macOS where I hear a different container solution every time someone asks about it. Colima is a new one to me. Maybe it works great and the others do too, but full 1P support is a step up.
    - pjmlp 5mo ago
      Yes, however most of us don't really need to use Linux containers for our work, plain traditional UNIX works just fine.

lukan 5mo ago

But if I don't want to have to use a VM? Well, then you can only put it in dev mode and use chromebrew. Which I am glad exists, but even installing node can be a pain and the way to get it running changed over the years.