Google's Fuchsia OS Confirmed To Have Android App Support Via Android Runtime (9to5google.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from 9to5Google: We've long suspected that Google's upcoming operating system, Fuchsia, would join the ranks of Chrome OS (and Android) in its support for Android apps. Today, that suspicion has been confirmed by a new change found in the Android Open Source Project, and we can say with confidence that Fuchsia will be capable of running Android apps using the Android Runtime. To make it simple, Fuchsia will use a specially designed version of the Android Runtime ("ART" above) to run Android applications. This version of ART will be installable on any Fuchsia device using a .far file, Fuchsia's equivalent of Android's APK.

How exactly Fuchsia will use the Android Runtime from there is still unclear. This is includes whether the Android Runtime is able to work as expected to replace Linux kernel calls with equivalents from Fuchsia's Zircon kernel or if ART will run inside of a Linux virtual machine using Machina, Fuchsia's virtual machine system. Regardless, what is clear is that Fuchsia devices are intended to run Android applications.

Comments

Re:The Fuchsia Android Runtime

[divide overflow]

I call it FART for short.

I say we make this a meme.

Garbage conclusion

[dfghjk]

"what is clear is that Fuchsia devices are intended to run Android applications."

No, what is clear is that Fuchsia devices can be configured to run Android applications. That was never in doubt.

There is no evidence that this is anything beyond a transition technology nor is there any assurance that the runtime doesn't come with downsides. Intel Macs, after all, were capable of running PowerPC applications, but that doesn't mean they were *intended* to run them...and they weren't.

Re:Garbage conclusion

[drinkypoo]

Intel Macs, after all, were capable of running PowerPC applications, but that doesn't mean they were *intended* to run them...and they weren't.

You think that happened through evolution? No, it was intelligent design. That's intention.

Re: Garbage conclusion

[fard69]

You, too?

Re:Garbage conclusion

[sexconker]

Intel Macs, after all, were capable of running PowerPC applications, but that doesn't mean they were *intended* to run them...and they weren't.

Ah, so early Intel Macs were able to run PowerPC applications UNINTENTIONALLY? It was an unexpected side effect? A random occurrence? A bug?

Re:Google blows!!!

[phantomfive]

What kind of moron would trade privacy for free stuff?

99.9% of humanity.

.far extension

[found404]

Farandole Composer (.far): Music Module (MOD) from back in the day when computers were actually personal. Much prefer the meaning of the old extension to the new Fuschia-based extension, which is another surveillance, tracking, data-harvesting front-end.

Re: Google blows!!!

[jpaine619]

And by all means pay the Apple tax everyone else has for a good reason.

Is that the one where you pay Apple to not spy on you but, instead, launch the Facebook app so Zuckerberg can spy on you?

Googly Googly Googliness

[astrofurter]

Fuchsia: it spies on you 50 different ways, AND it lets you run all your favorite legacy Android spyware!

Re:Googly Googly Googliness

[sexconker]

Google has enough money and resources to write something to the same level as Linux.

No it doesn't. Money can hire people, but they'd need to hire the right people, keep them there and interested, kick out all the troublemakers, and be a fucking business for 5 years minimum to get a new OS cobbled together well enough for a public outing.

Google doesn't have the attention span to see such a project through. Google doesn't have the backbone to tell the millennial snowflakes within to fuck off while they hire people who know what they're doing. Google doesn't have the ability to attract such talent anymore aside from throwing piles and piles of money at them. Even then, how long will someone with the skills necessary to work on something like this subject themselves to Google? The more you pay them the quicker they can say "Fuck it, I'm out.". The people who have these skills tend to be older, and many are already retired. They don't want to and don't need to put up with the "image" or "culture" Google shrouds itself in, and wouldn't stand the turmoil and bullshit that goes on internally. Hell, many would object on an ethical standpoint.

Google would be better off creating a new company, distancing it far, far away from Google, Alphabet, etc., giving it the funds and the time to get shit done, then bringing them / what they produce back into the fold. It'll be great for a while after they buy it, then it'll slowly but surely turn to shit or be killed off entirely. See 90% of all Google's projects.

Might as well suggest that HP/IBM/Oracle can return to the glory days just by investing and hiring. A fish rots from the head down.

Another step closer to removing Linux from Android

[iampiti]

I don't know what are the intentions of Google regarding Fuchsia but I'd bet they want it to replace Android on the long term. After all, Linux is the largest piece of software in the Android stack that Google doesn't control

Re:Not dead then???

[SurenEnfiajyan]

Who said that it's dead??? They just removed Armadillo UI and now internally test their proprietary (yet) GUIs. Armadillo was a test GUI btw, it has no chance to get into a final product.

The Ranks?

[Pyramid]

When will it and Chrome join the ranks of operating systems that run Android applications *well*?

Re:Too many Monokernel lovers here....

[Tarlus]

Tanenbaum, is that you?

Re: Google blows!!!

[Tarlus]

Doesn't matter what platform you're using, the only way to keep Facebook out of your life is to stay away from Facebook.

Re:The Fuchsia Android Runtime

[sexconker]

Whatever they call it (ART/Dalvik/etc.), we all know it's a ripoff of someone's JVM.

Re:Another step closer to removing Linux from Andr

[sexconker]

Are you retarded?

Google can contribute to Linux. Google can fork Linux.

Re: Google blows!!!

[jpaine619]

Doesn't matter what platform you're using, the only way to keep Facebook out of your life is to stay away from Facebook.

And you're wrong... Very wrong. Do a google search on Facebook Shadow Profiles... You're probably in Facebook even if you've never used them before.

Re:Another step closer to removing Linux from Andr

[iampiti]

- The insult isn't necessary.
- Yes, they can and they do contribute but the can't control what others do with Linux or its complete design and overall direction as they can obviously do with something they develop themselves and the kernel in Fuchsia.

Re:Another step closer to removing Linux from Andr

[sexconker]

The insult isn't necessary.

It was a question, and it was prompted because your reasoning was "Linux is the largest piece of software in the Android stack that Google doesn't control", which shows a fundamental lack of understanding.

Yes, they can and they do contribute but the can't control what others do with Linux or its complete design and overall direction as they can obviously do with something they develop themselves and the kernel in Fuchsia.

As I mentioned, they can fork Linux if they want to control the entire direction of the project for their own purposes.

The only reason to develop Fuchsia is so you can foist a completely black box spyware OS on billions of devices.

Re: why do I want this

[UpnAtom]

Sailfish.

Re: Google blows!!!

[jpaine619]

Touche

texttwist

[Parvo00]

Very interesting and texttwist 2 full of fun while playing this game.