LinuxOnAndroid

Reviving a 10 year old Android project

Who am I?

• DevRel Manager at Vonage
• Android Developer for 12+ years
• An Android enthusiast for many many years
• Lead of the LinuxOnAndroid project
• Four Leasons learnt by fire

It all started with...

What is LinuxOnAndroid

• Run full (GNU) Linux distros on your Android device
• Via Chroot (Think Linux for Chromebook)
• Run GUI via VNC
• Doesn't touch Android
• Required Root

How did the project start?

• Born out of hacking
• XDA guides
• Simple command line scripts run over ADB

Progressed into a full app

Integrated downloading, extracting and running Linux images

App revisions and improvements

• Continued to update and improve the app.
• No more dashboard!
• High-tech slideout menu

Successful Kickstarter

• 2013 everyone was doing it!
• Allowed for more focus

More Improvements

• Removed paid version
• Ads + IAP
• Open source (on Source Forge)

Wide Success

• 1+ million downloads
• 100,000 + Active installs
• Featured in Linux Format

And then.... Life

• + Offered a job
• + Worked on building a tablet with Linux on Android built in
• + Freelanced as Android developer
• + Got married
• = No time for Linux on Android

Time to start again

• 2021, people still using the project
• Still over 10,000 active installs
• Time to get back to work
• New "Proot" meant no longer needed root

Dust off the code

• Mirror on Github still up
• Android has come a very long way!
• Keystore Where Art Thou?
• Do we rebuild or start again?

Website, Hosting

• Old site using random host provider
• WordPress
• Slow and expensive

Source code, Files

• Hosted on Source Forge

Communication

• All old communication was done via a Freenode IRC channel

u/patoezequiel

Lessons learned

1 - Architecture

• Vital to develop Apps Architecture early on
• Enforce it!
• Maintain docs, and make it easy for other devs.

2 - Third Parties

• No platform stays at the top forever
• Always have a backup plan
• Minimise your dependencies

3 - Android moves quick

• A lot has changed in 10 years
• But you don't need every bell and whistle!
• Features, Styles, and best practices change

4 - Communication

• Keep communication open
• Make it easy for others to help
• Even communication channels have to change.

Thank you!

polywork.com/devwithzachary

github.com/devwithzachary/presentations