Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

dev/censor · 2011-08-02 21:12:36

I am a big-time Android abuser and small-time developer. I've become discontented with the normal Android/mobile OS environment and I am dedicated to porting the environment and versitility of a full #! install, packaged with the speed and configurability of the Openbox WM.
This is to be accomplished through the "Nexus One Ubuntu" trick, link to come soon as I'm on my Android and I'm lazy. This method, paired with a quick script to call the commands to boot the visual chroot and theoretically anyone sould be able to (with some tweaking) get any major distro (or derivative) to run on any Android device without sacrificing function of the phone or other mobile device.
I have succesfully ported a Kubuntu build to a Samsung Tab, but now I want to port something actually useful. Anyone with Android devices or some Android Linux-fork know how that are interested in starting a Crunchbang#!Mobile project, let me know what you've got and let's send this incredible distro mobile!
-Dev./C3n50r

Awebb · 2011-08-02 21:20:39

Forgive my bluntness, but if you want to do something useful, create a native E17 port for Android. I do not find Openbox very mouse friendly (hence it's not very touchpad friendly), it's based upon slim control elements very much not suitable for a touchscreen.

That's just my 2 minor currency units on "actually useful". I will, however, give away some spare time to be a tester, if you need one. I have a 7" Samsung here that really needs a little action :-D

dev/censor · 2011-08-02 21:35:25

Well, as far as interfacing, I have an Intercept, so slide-out keyboard and some interesting hotkey configs and i'd have total, intuitive control. If someone could get a virtual machine build of crunchbang core using E17, I can probably get it ported, even if by medieval measures, onto a device.
If we can get a clean way to archive and distribute the CB#!M build, we could then make 'flavors', as certain WMs are surely going to handle interfaces differently, and be better suited for certain devices.
I'm overworked at the moment, but could someone perhaps work on stripping #! And dropping E17 on it in a Virtualbox?

chaanakya · 2011-08-02 21:39:35

I have an Archos tablet (Archos 70 IT) which I'd be willing to "sacrifice" for testing... wink

I could probably drop e17 on a crunchbang install, but what exactly do you mean "slim it up"? Isn't it already quite slim? O_o

Last edited by chaanakya (2011-08-02 21:40:24)

dev/censor · 2011-08-02 21:57:34

What are the specs on the archos?

Slim it up, meaning removing openbox and dependancies and running only what's needed for E17. Lighter than light. Get it running in under 2gb and it will be able to fit on the stock microsd that's packaged with the phones.

chaanakya · 2011-08-03 03:02:54

http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archo … us&lang=en

dev/censor · 2011-08-03 10:30:38

Do you have the Archos rooted and have openssh or an equivalent? I might start on the Openbox variant with my Intercept.

chaanakya · 2011-08-03 18:34:06

Yes, I have permanent root as well as openssh.

dev/censor · 2011-08-05 12:00:46

sorry, I've been busy the last few days. How large of an SD (or MicroSD if applicable) card do you have? I'll work on setting up the directories and everything to where all you'll have to do is unpack the archive to the root of your SD card and run a shell script I'll write as well. I'll try to make it as simple as possible and we'll try to get it working on your archos.

rizzo · 2011-08-05 12:10:32

If you remove openbox and install E17, you no longer have CrunchBang but Debian and E17. Actually, it's often overlooked that CrunchBang is pretty much just pure Debian with custom configs.

Have to admit that I don't get the idea behind this project. Why would I want to take an OS designed for use with my hardware and replace it with something that isn't?

Unia · 2011-08-05 12:16:04

omns wrote:

Have to admit that I don't get the idea behind this project. Why would I want to take an OS designed for use with my hardware and replace it with something that isn't?

Cause you can and it's fun to try? tongue

chaanakya · 2011-08-05 12:22:13

I have a 1G MicroSD, but I have around 8 GB internal storage (which I can access directly). In addition, I'm getting a 32 GB MicroSD card in a few days.

chaanakya · 2011-08-05 12:26:27

@omns: it would be awesome to get #! working on an Android device! I'd then have all the awsomeness of Linux without some of the stupid limitations of Android. Example: if Google says an app isn't compatible with your device, you can't download it. Period. Unless you look to other sources. That's not a good way to discourage software piracy tongue

Last edited by chaanakya (2011-08-05 12:26:52)

cc_INC · 2011-08-05 19:33:13

Unia wrote:

omns wrote:
Have to admit that I don't get the idea behind this project. Why would I want to take an OS designed for use with my hardware and replace it with something that isn't?
Cause you can and it's fun to try?

+1

dev/censor · 2011-08-05 19:52:38

Cause you can and it's fun to try?

+2

chaanakya · 2011-08-05 21:14:00

Unia wrote:

Cause you can and it's fun to try?

+3

thenry30 · 2012-02-08 07:17:13

Is there any interest on still doing this img file? I would love to have crunchbang running on my Atrix4g.

dev/censor · 2012-02-08 13:24:42

There is a lot of interest, but not a lot of means. I nolonger have an android device. I, however, am very interested in helping out and seeing my old idea come to fruition if some other people show support again.
Anyone else still want to see #!M finished?

schwim · 2012-10-14 00:03:27

searching the goog tonight for #! on android and found this thread. Ive read a lot concerning ubu on droid but i dont like ubu so i havent tried it. Has anyone gone ahead and wrapoed this up? Im ready to install! smile

merelyjim · 2012-10-16 23:05:34

I have a Nook color. I have an Android phone. I can honestly say that I spend more time reading on the phone than the Nook, so that leaves the tablet open to experimentation. Problem is I can't seem to crack it!

Looked into Bodhi Linux which says it's possible, but the links all circle back onto themselves. <annoyed>There are no instructions! </annoyed>

Not sure I'd really want #! on a tablet, though. When I'm using it, it's very keyboard oriented. Tablets are not.

Maybe I'm wrong?

dev/censor · 2012-10-23 03:22:39

I'm back into the android game, actually, so there is some news. I had totally forgotten about this thread until I noticed the email about these posts.
I am working on making an ARM build of debian based on #! native install for the ASUS eeeTab Transformer. I have gotten debian running natively on one of my TF101's, so if anyone's interested in that I can redirect them to links to the build image and instructions on how to flash it.
If there is still some interest, let me know your devices and I'll see what I can do about at least pointing you in the right direction of possible native installs.
Now as far as what the OP says about chroot and visual vnc is all a thing of the past. With new kernels and proper flashing, a psuedo dual-boot is possible, and linux runs natively, not 'on top' of android like before, so retaining functionality isn't as easy as before. Booting into android is possible, but for anyone looking to use their phone as a crunchbox, you will have to boot into android to utilize the phone and most builds of arm linux aren't capable of using 3G/CDMA/GSM signals from your carrier. This, however, also means that if you boast a monster device with, say a tegra 2 or 3 from nvidia, you can utilize all the hardware's resources without worrying about maintaining an android system in the background.
This is all still very much in the early stages, and if touchscreen linux is your bag, you're barking up the wrong tree. Even with my TF101's tegra 2 clocked at 1.2GHz I catch some lag.
As far as questions about openbox and it's functionality on a cursor-driven device like a phone or tablet. Openbox /is/ possible, but not without good touchscreen support on the kernel level that allows something like two-finger tap for right-click, etc. so you can access crucial menus. XFCE is a much better choice for starting the build, and through good configuration anything is possible. Most people are using Cinnamon, Unity, or Gnome for their mouse-heavy controls for this reason. I've, however, been successful with Rat Poison, so don't give up.
Also, pro-tip: if you can get a keyboard dock or some other hardware keyboard for the device, do so. Software keyboards are not easy to configure without at least ADB access, and for any shell work, it is a necessity unless you enjoy being strapped to a computer the whole time.

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#1 2011-08-02 21:12:36

Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#2 2011-08-02 21:20:39

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#3 2011-08-02 21:35:25

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#4 2011-08-02 21:39:35

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#5 2011-08-02 21:57:34

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#6 2011-08-03 03:02:54

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#7 2011-08-03 10:30:38

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#8 2011-08-03 18:34:06

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#9 2011-08-05 12:00:46

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#10 2011-08-05 12:10:32

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#11 2011-08-05 12:16:04

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#12 2011-08-05 12:22:13

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#13 2011-08-05 12:26:27

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#14 2011-08-05 19:33:13

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#15 2011-08-05 19:52:38

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#16 2011-08-05 21:14:00

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#17 2012-02-08 07:17:13

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#18 2012-02-08 13:24:42

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#19 2012-10-14 00:03:27

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#20 2012-10-16 23:05:34

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

#21 2012-10-23 03:22:39

Re: Crunchbang#!Mobile for Android Devices

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