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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.
That would be a reason to buy this phone....
Must resist purchase of new geek toy...
^The same sort of people who take things apart to see how they work, and tinker with things because they actually enjoy doing so.
Don't worry, your iPhone will not wink out of existance because somebody with different preferences buys a different phone, or prefers cars without the hoods welded shut.
Just shows Debian booting. What can you do with it?
You can drain your battery with it, enjoy!
Yeah...
Can I buy an unlocked iPhone for a reasonable price, yet? How about deals with networks other than AT&T?
Can I install custom software yet? Oh, I have to jailbreak it. That makes sens... Oh wait, you're asking me to crack my own phone.
Alright, I'll develop an iPhone app. I'll write it in Python, or maybe Erlang, download updates on the fly... Not allowed, you say? I wonder why? Only Apple knows...
Maybe I'll make it run in the background, so I can have something play music while users do something else... Nope, not allowed. When the user taps away from my app, I have to shut down, completely, so as not to drain the battery. That's not just a good best practice, it's actually enforced by Apple.
Yes, it's prettier. Yes, there are things it does better. But as long as Apple keeps such a stranglehold around what's available and what isn't, the iPhone will fall behind. There is no question of that -- there will be killer apps written for Android, even for Windows Mobile, which cannot be ported to the iPhone because of Apple's restrictions.
Why would you want a system so closed, inflexible, and proprietary that it makes Windows look good?
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
It does not show Debian booting, it shows an safe-upgrade using apt or aptitude.
The Debian version is Lenny, btw.
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.
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
Man you almost had it. Insightful +5, then you went and mentioned Windows Mobile.. ugg..
Bringing liberty to the masses. - http://freetalklive.com/
2009: The year of Terminal on the cell phone.
Take that iPhone!
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Just shows Debian booting
Wrong. It's the new media player, it turns sound wave into text. Can't you hear the 'tuff tuff' music playing?
The header clearly stated "Here's what it looks like running:", so I have no reason to believe otherwise.
Virtual Betting on Facebook for non-geeks.
Article mentions Android is based on Debian, so basically what has happened is apt-get was installed (and all required software) which then gives access to the entire debain ARM library.
Is this correct?
It's sad the number of responses saying this is a boot screen... maybe if you don't actually look at it, and just go: 'oh pretty text!'
I think (ergo sum) that you really meant
Why Think? We think better! Let us do the thinking for you (for a 'small' fee)
--frank[at]unternet.org
Don't worry, your iPhone will not wink out of existance because somebody with different preferences buys a different phone, or prefers cars without the hoods welded shut.
hehe - indeed. I have a Mac laptop, a Linux workstation, and a Linux media center at home. Each is brilliant for its intended purpose. Viva La Difference!
Stop-Prism.org: Opt Out of Surveillance
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
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!
Probably not, but being able to run apt-get is a big step in being able to run anything you damn well please.
Well, you boot Android, get Debian on it and the video we're treated to is... ... running apt-get to drag down packages.
Am I the only one who thinks this is totally pointless?
Why would you want a system so closed, inflexible, and proprietary that it makes Windows look good?
With all the thrashing /. has given Vista, we Microsoft fanbois will take what we can get. ;)
Boot Windows, Linux, and ESX over the network for free.
Aside from the cool geek factor, why load Debian? It's a distro optimized for servers.
Who told you that? My experience is that Debian's strength is in its versatility, rather than a focus on servers. Thats why it is seen in using for anything from the firmware-based Linksys NSLU2 to being the base of some of the most popular desktop distros of the past few years, suck as Knoppix and Ubuntu.
But you can use apt-get to install the GNU toolchain...
But you can use the GNU toolchain to build apt-get...
OH GOD I'M SO CONFUSED!
It's not exactly rocket surgery.