Database Info

Android applications and Linux. Where are the Linux Fans ?

I posted this thread already in the ATRIX sub-forum, but there was nearly no feedback. Hopefully here it will have more rresponse.
The xda-developers forum is really great ! I love it. Was my first place to go, after I bought my ATRIX some weeks ago in USA.
I do not know, what was the reason for you fellows to get an Android smartphone. Mine was to replace my 8 years old cellphone from Samsung with a mondern smart phone. To be honest, the "telephone option" was the less important one. I like the MP3, video and some little games (as Sokoban and Pinball). Of course could have been an other operation system, but Windoz mobile was out of question (I hate everything from M$), Macintoy is too much restriceted and I love Linux. Therefore was an easy decision for me.
For me, as a Linux-fanboy, it was (and still is) a little bit sad that a lot of applications (remote control, synchronizing, ...) and all hacks are running on Windoz. Maybe some there are other ones here in the xda-formum feeling the same.
Therefore my suggestion to the responsibles of the forum:
- Could be an idea to open a sub-forum (or a sub-sub forum) for the Linux-fanboys to exchange information.
and my suggestion to other members:
- Lets share information, ideas about applications (tips, tricks, ... ) running perfect with Linux operating system.
To begin.
- The Moto Phone Portal application (Motorola) is not (too) bad. Running nice with Firefox and Ubuntu (Linux). Except the filemanager option.
"File Manager access supported on Internet Explorer only." Upps ! Even the Windoz-fanboys do not use this buggy program.
- IP Webcam. Running nice with Firefox and Ubuntu (Linux)
- SSHDroidPro. Running perfect with Gnome-commander and Nautilus on Ubuntu.

It sounds like you just want a place to feel superior to all those filthy non-open sourcers.
If xda is making an exclusive Linux-section, they better be doing exclusive Windows and mac-sections as well.
And xda is not a computer forum.

Android = Linux/linux = android
These are fu¢king computers. Not GOphones
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

Most of the users use windows, yet I do notice that the more advanced users run a GNU/Linux based distri.
Developers usually want to develop for the biggest market.
I have seen a lot of tools being able to run with mono.Usually these are not serving applications but rather tools for the phone like a qtADB, an interface for ADB, Rooting tools, Flashing tools etc.
Btw
GNU/Linux*
or otherwise sadstallman.jpg

Well, if you're a linux user you're probably used to finding your way out of such situations And there's always Wine and Mono for them tools.
P.S. Triple boot Linux/Windows/Hackintosh-yeah-I-know-it's-bad user.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

there should be a bit to do with linux as i find a lot of stuff easier to do on linux rather than windows

Linux and Android
I'm a full time Linux user, anything Debian/Debian-based really.
I suppose a few docs on things like flashing with Heimdall's frontend or explaining you cant use pit files like Odin. Random stuff like that would be helpful. Then again being a Penguin my response to that is RTFM! hehe.

Thanks for the feedback
Hey, there was some feedback ! This is nice ! I was in Lisbon for some days, so only today I could read your feedbacks. Would like to respond now:
Hi 8ESP,
relax my friend. The idea of my thread was not to show / feel "superior to all those filthy non-open sourcers". For me really doesn't matter what kind of operating system someone uses (on his computer) ...
... "And xda is not a computer forum". Yes I noticed this, we are in the “Android forum“, but thank you for your information. ;-)
… by the way a modern smartphone running Android is a computer
Skye Menjou
… "but rather tools for the phone like a qtADB, an interface for ADB, Rooting tools, Flashing tools etc."
This exactly was my idea, to share some information (between the Linux users) which are interesting applications for us. Why to check 100.000 applications, if someone of you already got some good experiences.
K900
"Well, if you're a linux user you're probably used to finding your way out of such situations"
Yes, one is to share information.
exjinn
"Then again being a Penguin my response to that is RTFM! Hehe."
What manual and why ? ;-)
Of course most of the applications from the market run on your smartphone only, so it doesn't matter if you are a Windoz or Linux-Fan boy. But there are a few exceptions as
Remote control Android <> PC
Streaming
Synchronisation
Addressbook (Thunderbird)
Bookmarks (Firefox)
About this kind of applications I am talking. Here I would like to compare notes

I am game and here to help. Mint is calling my name...anyone else here it..."sudo aptitude install..."
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

Well, almost everything Android can be done with fastboot and adb which are both available for Linux. There's also qtadb if you don't like command line tools.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

bdawg31 said:
I am game and here to help. Mint is calling my name...anyone else here it..."sudo aptitude install..."
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Arch / Gentoo / Agilia user here
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

We are approching my idea
Well, almost everything Android can be done with fastboot and adb which are both available for Linux. There's also qtadb if you don't like command line tools.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, we are approching my idea. Thanks K900. By the way I will try gtadb. As I my smartphone is an ATRIX, I use the "Motodev Studio for Android" (running on Linux of course)
... but my idea is not the PC side and which Linux is used or what application you use here, but the Android side. - 8ESP reminded us to be in an Android forum. - ;-)
To give an example. I would like to convert my Thunderbird addressbook to my smartphone, to K9-mail or the contacts. Could not find any application (up to now) which is doing this on a Linux (!) PC. I am not in the mood to use a virtual machine for this task. -
An other example. To convert the bookmarks of Firefox (running on Linux) is easy as long as you use the version 4 running on the PC and mobile firefox on Android.
What about a remote control of the Android on the PC (running Linux ;-). For example how can I use my notebook keyboard for the ATRIX. Any bluethooth possibility.
-> I would like to share interresting Android applications between the Linux Fan-Boys.
Something like this : He fellows I found a very nice application doing .... "

Okay, there you go. Contacts - export vcards from Thunderbird (dunno tho. I use KMail), import to desktop GMail, sync. Bookmarks - use xmarks. Remote control - use x11vnc on desktop and any vnc client on the device. Remote control other way - android vnc server on device, any vnc client on desktop. Needs root though.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

Since everything is cloud based, I have zero concerns about Android in regards to Linux.. When I need to transfer something over I'll just download it in the browser, maybe sometimes put it on Dropbox... I could also sftp it over if I wanted to.
Maybe if you ask a coherent question about what you're wanting to do people can make suggestions...

Couldn't transmit my message ;-(
OK fellows. Thanks for your posts, they showed me that I could not transmit my message, my idea of this thread.
- Was not my intension to talk about Linux and to feel superior
- Was not my intension to ask for help. RTFM
- Was not my intension to dig into Thunderbird (this was only an example)
- Was not my intension to get information about clouds. Good luck, we have only few of them only here in Portugal ;-)
My intension was to share same information between other (Linux) users which are these special applications to get your Androidsmartphone "connected" with Linux. Connected, I wanted to say something like remote control, filesharing, synchronization, addressbook and contacts ...
... nothing more, nothing less.
So lets close this thread and be happy !

I just suggest some of those apps. So I guess this should be a QA thread from now on. People ask, people answer. Simple as that.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

I'm using linux Fedora 14, my defy and magic works excellent, no drivers needed, tethering is super easy, mounting can't be easier. That's all what I need. Android plus windows is a hell

ROM combining android & ubuntu source

I have been flashing others' ROMs for about a year now, but I have also been on Ubuntu (and also tried Bodhi and other distros) on my laptop for years now. I was wondering if a ROM could be compiled using a hybrid of android and ubuntu or debian source code?
I would like to get a BT keyboard and an external monitor, and eventually do away with my laptop. I am in a masters program for instructional technology, and NEED to be able to write in APA format... difficult for QuickOffice Pro, but easy for OpenOffice and/or LibreOffice...
I know that an armel (ARM) version of ubuntu is available, and that a chroot method is possible via VNC. Ideally, however, I would love to run Ubuntu natively, but need phone functions too. I am up for a VZW upgrade anytime now, but wonder what handset would be best for attempting something like this, if it is possible? I am currently using the D1.
Sent from my Droid using XDA App

Hey people, windows 7 or Linux???

I know this has nothing to do with phones but I want to know what minds on this forum think. Thanks!
Sent from my MB870 using XDA App

Linux, of course.
Sent from HTC G2

I use Linux, Win7 and OSX depending on what I'm doing...but Linux is certainly my favorite, especially for development, and for phones!!! = : ]
By the way this should probably have gone into the off topic section (although I did just tie it back into phones!!!)

MrBultitude said:
I use Linux, Win7 and OSX depending on what I'm doing...but Linux is certainly my favorite, especially for development, and for phones!!! = : ]
By the way this should probably have gone into the off topic section (although I did just tie it back into phones!!!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what he said. I have a macbook pro,and through Vmware Fusion I use win7, Ubuntu and CentOS when I need them. I find CentOS to be the lightest and fastest Linux I've used although I haven't really tried alot of the other Linux images.
MoPhoACTV Initiative

I have installed both Linux (openSUSE) and Windows 7. I only need Windows if i need to run a Windows program which I can't run in Linux using wine, so I use Windows very, very seldom.

I also have both installed. it's a matter of what do you need. I only use Linux for software developing but, W7 is more "friendly" to the user..

windows 7 ....

Ihave windows 7 installed, and use a few different Linux live distro's for work and play.
Knoppix
Kubuntu
Ubuntu
UBCD
Gparted
Android X86

Ohschit said:
I know this has nothing to do with phones but I want to know what minds on this forum think. Thanks!
Sent from my MB870 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both. I am primarily using Windows 7 until I can freaking get adb set up on Linux. The only thing I don't like about Linux is how almost everything is done through terminal.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk

Waddle said:
I have both. I am primarily using Windows 7 until I can freaking get adb set up on Linux. The only thing I don't like about Linux is how almost everything is done through terminal.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're scared of the terminal, then start off with beginner's Linux, Ubuntu. I'm not poking fun at you or anything, but my 14 year old sister uses Ubuntu. She prefers it over Windows. Linux isn't the ugly monster it once was. Personally, I use Windows 7 Pro x64 for work, and Mint Linux for personal use. I'm following the development on Haiku very closely, though.

I'm using linuxmint. I think it's easier to use linux with my android, especially to connect to it using adb and running root shell, because the terminal is the same.
Sent from my SK17i using XDA App

wow - all people so calm here
Where are the ****ing nerds - freaking out when the word windows even comes up? *lol*
Well I loved those question ever since - as u can't tell this in general at all.
- user friendlyness and hardware support:
still win7 since any hardware developer focuses on win drivers
even linux is a lot better now compared to former times (I still have some pieces of hardware wich are not or just half working)
-stability:
never had a bluescreen with win7 again, even some crappy hardware drivers still can affect it
linux stable anyway as long as u dont play around with the kernel
-networking
u got other win7 pc's at home or even use homegroups,... -> win7
(since ms changed something in the smb encryption in win7)
But the most important question is:
What are u doing with your computer?
e.g.
- Games:
defnitly Win7
- Programming:
in general -> Win7 or linux
.Net, VB, C#, Win Phone,... -> Win7 (as u won't find software for linux)
- surfing and all other stuff u want to do:
doesn't matter at all - beside some flash and silverlight functionality
- and what is most important!:
Do u need some programs like: Ableton Live, any Adobe, most CAD,...
Cause those will force you to win7
From my stand atm:
I tried linux again and again over the past 12 years now and each time I came back to win due to some missing applications or some malfunctioning hardware.
Anyway there are just a few things u can do with linux that u can't do with win7.
But there are several limitations on linux due to missing professional programs.
Even there is wine,... and dualboot and VM's
But as I hate to reboot I use Win7 as main operating system and linux in a VM (wich i barely use).
Actualy there are just 2 things I miss on my win7: fancy accelerated desktop, pulseaudio (for sound over ip)
Anyway:
From starting point. If somebody doesn't own a system yet and just want's to do basic stuff (office, surfing,..) or even some programing -> use linux as its free
If u then need some other fucntionality u need windows for -> go buy it

Well I'd say Linux, Ubuntu is a very good one to use and now you can use Gnome 3 with it which is just...so so good
What applications do you use on Windows? If you struggle after saying browser and Itunes, it's a no brainer. Also Antivirus doesn't count
If you use Office applications such as Word, Libre office is a great replacement and there are many add-ons you can install to improve the usability.
I Dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 7 and have OpenSuse, Mint, Backtrack and Fedora on live USB's and plan on having them on a separate laptop once I can afford it. If it wasn't for my study I wouldn't even use Windows 7
Oh and you can save some cash!

Hey guys,
just wondering if I installed Linux can I switch back to Windows 7 easily or not? Also will programs such as Adobe software, iTunes, uTorrent and Microsoft Office work fine?
Thanks

Windows 7...Direct X.

CurtisAndroid5 said:
Hey guys,
just wondering if I installed Linux can I switch back to Windows 7 easily or not? Also will programs such as Adobe software, iTunes, uTorrent and Microsoft Office work fine?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can it's quite simple. You may want to Dual boot though, which is very simple and Ubuntu is one of the best for this (By this I mean the guide it gives you while doing it, mainly yes, and no questions)
Although the software will pose a problem, you will need to find alternatives for Itunes you have banshee inbuilt into Ubuntu, as well as Libre office and there is a download for torrent on Linux and there are multiple alternatives. As for Adobe software which do you mean? GIMP is a good alternative to Photoshop and you can download a flash plugin to view flash.

For me, its LinuxMint Debian Edition (With Gnome3) on my main laptop. I have been Windows Free for 5 years and loving it

Amosela said:
Yes you can it's quite simple. You may want to Dual boot though, which is very simple and Ubuntu is one of the best for this (By this I mean the guide it gives you while doing it, mainly yes, and no questions)
Although the software will pose a problem, you will need to find alternatives for Itunes you have banshee inbuilt into Ubuntu, as well as Libre office and there is a download for torrent on Linux and there are multiple alternatives. As for Adobe software which do you mean? GIMP is a good alternative to Photoshop and you can download a flash plugin to view flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the informative reply.
I meant as in Adobe Master Collection (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier Pro etc). I'm familiar with GIMP, it's how I first got into graphic-design! I'll definitely do some reading up on Ubuntu and Linux in general.
Thanks a bunch.

CurtisAndroid5 said:
Thanks for the informative reply.
I meant as in Adobe Master Collection (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier Pro etc). I'm familiar with GIMP, it's how I first got into graphic-design! I'll definitely do some reading up on Ubuntu and Linux in general.
Thanks a bunch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad I can help.
Unsure about alternatives on the others, some research into it should have some promising alternatives. Glad your familiar with GIMP!
Good luck I hope everything goes well.
Once again glad I can help.

surfer2.3 said:
Windows 7...Direct X.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Direct X is one of the worst things about Windows.
Sent from HTC G2

Developing apps, mac vs pc?

Just curious what most of the devs use? I'm looking into getting a new computer just for app development. Any input would be appreciated.

PC, I never liked building things on a mac

loudaccord said:
Just curious what most of the devs use? I'm looking into getting a new computer just for app development. Any input would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For general devolpment, I actually prefer Linux. However, windows is the most featured for dev compared to mac, which is only good if you develop for ios
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

I do all my development using Ubuntu. I develop using only the terminal and gedit primarily because I found Eclipse to be not flexible enough when developing.
I've tried to develop for Android on Windows using command line or Eclipse, but I much prefer Ubuntu. It's just a preference because I'm sure development is the same on all operating systems.

nraboy said:
I do all my development using Ubuntu. I develop using only the terminal and gedit primarily because I found Eclipse to be not flexible enough when developing.
I've tried to develop for Android on Windows using command line or Eclipse, but I much prefer Ubuntu. It's just a preference because I'm sure development is the same on all operating systems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's interesting, I'm using Windows/Eclipse and was just thinking of what other options would be. I'll start looking into Ubuntu now.

The only commands you'll ever need are:
ant debug
ant release
adb install -r apkfile
adb uninstall package
adb logcat
emulator -avd emulatorname
I usually have three terminals open.
- Compiling / Installing
- Emulator
- Log output (logcat)
I use the workspace feature of Ubuntu so that way I can sort my applications into groups and using the alt+ctrl+arrow shortcut I can quickly navigate around.
Ubuntu is free, heavily updated, heavily supported and easy enough to use.
Definitely worth checking out if you are still trying to find your place of zen.

I'm looking at getting new hardware also, laptop would be preferable but I know it might not have the muscle I'm looking for. What hw are you guys running to do app development?

I'm developing on a laptop as well.
The hardware is as follows:
2.4ghz Intel i3
4gb of ram
500gb hard drive
Ubuntu 11.10
1366 x 768 screen resolution
If I was going to do it over again, I'd get a better screen resolution. Many items are larger than the screen with this low resolution. The other specs on my laptop are overkill for developing Android applications.

Chroot ubuntu on android device - brainstorm

Okay so basically, if you check out www.androlinux.com or search for youtube for ZedoMax, the guy has hacked ubuntu onto android.
I followed his instructions to a point, had to use rootstock to create a lucid kernel though (for lts). He provides four scripts, another file and an .IMG - I made mine.
Basically, documentation issues + a linux noob mean I cant find all the files it created on my phone, kill em all, and try again.
If somebody could take a look at the scripts and let me know what they think, I would be wholly appreciative!!
Also if anyone knows of a workaround to viewing the GUI over vnc thatd be awesome too!
Ps I know of the official version.. Thats not the solution im looking for.. As you can run apps directly in ubuntu im thinking of an interface app for it but thats another days tasking.
Sent from my LT18i using XDA

Some of the ported games use SDL for the Interface, maybe that is a way?

I'll bear this in mind - my Coursework atm is modding IOQuake3 Thanks dude