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Debian For Android Installer Released

dooberrymctavish writes "You can now download an installer and bootloader for getting Debian running on your Android (G1 at the moment) device; the whole install process will take you about 10 minutes, and leaves you with access to the full plethora of programs available in Debian and lets you continue using your phone as it was intended to be: as an Android device with all the capabilities thereof. Here's a look at it running.

5 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The video sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    It does not show Debian booting, it shows an safe-upgrade using apt or aptitude.

    The Debian version is Lenny, btw.

  2. Re:If it takes that much time to boot... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hi Guys, the video is of Debian doing an 'apt-get update' the boot takes less than 3 seconds. I showed this particular video to show that it is debian running. The boot is only 3 secs.

  3. teh lolz by joey · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here is the actual code from the bootdeb script.

    I particularly like how init is "started" before the kernel is "booted". The "automounter" is also a nice touch. It's also impressive how the kernel boots in exactly 1 second every time.

    echo "Custom Linux Pseudo Bootstrapper V1.0 - by Mark Walker"
    echo "WEB: http://www.androidfanatic.com/"
    echo "EML: admin@androidfanatic.com"
    echo " "
    sleep 1
    echo "Starting init process"
    sleep 1
    echo "INIT: Debian booting....."
    sleep 1
    echo "Running Linux Kernel"
    sysctl -w net.ipv4.ip_forward=1
    sleep 1
    echo "AutoMounter started"
    sleep 1
    echo "Type EXIT to end session"
    echo "Make sure you do a proper EXIT for a clean kill of Debian!"
    echo " "

    chroot $mnt /bin/bash

    On the other hand, my prediction re debootstrap was wrong. Rather than just use the shell script as designed, the creator of this thing ships an entire pre-built debian system that's chrooted into. Amusingly, this includes a root/.bash_history showing every command he ran while setting it up. (It also includes 104 mb of cached debs in /var, etc.)

    Anyway, very amusing.

    --
    see shy jo
  4. NICE! by certain+death · · Score: 4, Informative

    I have the phone, but I am not so sure I am willing to do this...

    --
    "My immediate reaction is "WTF? What kind of moron doesn't make things 64-bit safe to begin with?" Linus
  5. Re:This is why linux/opensource sucks. by SanityInAnarchy · · Score: 4, Informative

    Except it's true.

    Yes, Windows Mobile sucks. But, it does one thing Apple doesn't:

    You are allowed, and encouraged, to develop and use third-party apps, which have no relationship to Microsoft.

    You can download them from the Internet. You can install them via sync, or wifi. I don't actually know you can grab them with wifi, but that doesn't matter, because you could write a program that does that -- write your own package manager, even! -- and no one will stop you.

    On the iPhone, you distribute them through Apple, through the App Store, and you buy them through the App Store. Anything else is likely to void your warranty, maybe even get you sued.

    --
    Don't thank God, thank a doctor!