Linux/UNIX-like distro(s)/other OSes you'd like to run on your Gemini

[Varti]

Just noticed Alpine has a generic Aarch64 release, moved it to the first poll, thanks greguu for the heads up.

Varti

[greguu]

Arch Linux ARM (aarch64) and Alpine Linux (aarch64) are on my to-do list for the Gemini. I hoped Planet Computers would ship developer devices..but nay.

Yes, Arch Linux ARM runs great on the classic Zaurus Cxx00 series. (armv5tel)

Probably there are still not enough users that use desktop OSes on ARM devices, there might be a lack of developers and testers as well. I have Arch running on my Zaurus, it's a custom build called Alarmz made by our own OESF's moderator greguu, and I must say it runs well, even if the hardware is crippled by today's standards (only 64MB of RAM). Arch is one of the few remaining distros that still support the old ARMv5 CPUs.

That's awesome. Arch Linux for the win  

[greguu]

Well, you also may want to move Arch Linux ARM to the fist poll and remove Arch Linux from the second

Just noticed Alpine has a generic Aarch64 release, moved it to the first poll, thanks greguu for the heads up.

Varti

[Varti]

Well, you also may want to move Arch Linux ARM to the fist poll and remove Arch Linux from the second

/facepalm

Done. Removed also duplicated CentOS and OpenSUSE.

Varti

[Varti]

Arch Linux ARM (aarch64) and Alpine Linux (aarch64) are on my to-do list for the Gemini.

Great to hear that, looking forward to try them out!

Varti

[Murple2]

Just noticed Alpine has a generic Aarch64 release, moved it to the first poll, thanks greguu for the heads up.

Varti

... and Fedora?  

[Varti]

... and Fedora?  

Actually I'm not sure about that one. If a release is labelled "generic Aarch64" I have some hope that the supplied kernel will recognise the Gemini's hardware, if it's labelled otherwise I believe it's more probable that a different kernel will be required. All this is speculation anyway, it might be possible that we'll need a specific kernel for *any* distro.

Varti

[Murple2]

... and Fedora?  

Actually I'm not sure about that one. If a release is labelled "generic Aarch64" I have some hope that the supplied kernel will recognise the Gemini's hardware, if it's labelled otherwise I believe it's more probable that a different kernel will be required. All this is speculation anyway, it might be possible that we'll need a specific kernel for *any* distro.

Varti

Unless we have mainline support (unlikely initially) then yes we will have to use a planet computer supplied kernel regardless of the distro. But we can use that kernel with any distro we like. So fedora is no different to anything else.

[Grench]

Debian is solid and has pretty good ARM support.  I see no compelling reason to do any other GNU/Linux on the Gemini beyond scoring nerd points.

An additional advantage to Debian - a lot of the development and issues that the Linux on Gemini crowd is likely to encounter are the same kinds of development and issues that the Pyra (Handheld Linux Debian on ARM) community is going to be encountering.  Yes, they use a different SoC.  But - both device audiences are going to be trying to figure out how to make telephony software work under Linux on clam shell devices.  Having like Debian ARM repositories as a 'starting point' on both may have synergy/advantages.

[Murple2]

Debian is solid and has pretty good ARM support.  I see no compelling reason to do any other GNU/Linux on the Gemini beyond scoring nerd points.

Personal preference plays a big role but there are definite differences aside from "nerd points". Not all *nixes are created equal. I for one prefer a rolling release - I enjoy breaking stuff and fixing it again but I'm strange like that. But Debian is a very solid choice. Which is why Debian will be on the gemini as default. But this thread is about what OS people would *like* to run.

An additional advantage to Debian - a lot of development and issues that the Linux on Gemini crowd is likely to encounter are the same kinds of development and issues that the Pyra (Handheld Linux Debian on ARM) community is going to be encountering.  Yes, they use a different SoC.  But - both device audiences are going to be trying to figure out how to make telephony software work under Linux on clam shell devices.  Having like Debian ARM repositories as a 'starting point' on both may have synergy/advantages.

You say 'clam shell' I say 'small laptop'. Whatever software is developed/used for telephony will be usable across distros. What is far more pertinent is the desktop environment
/window manager being targeted. Not many people make phone calls from a Linux desktop so there is definitely some development to be done.

[Grench]

You say 'clam shell' I say 'small laptop'. Whatever software is developed/used for telephony will be usable across distros. What is far more pertinent is the desktop environment
/window manager being targeted. Not many people make phone calls from a Linux desktop so there is definitely some development to be done.

I think that people go overboard when they think that use as a phone dictates needing an entirely different DE.  All it really needs to be is a single 'Telephony' application.

Open it, it goes full screen.  In Psion fashion a horizontal row of telephony function icons run left-right at the bottom of the screen.
Messaging selected, messaging 'from who' contact lists on the left, content of the highlighted message on the right.
Phone selected, recent contacts list on the left, dial pad on the right.
Contacts selected, contacts list on the left, highlighted contact's details on the right.

Minimize it or close the lid and it runs in background.  It is a Telephony application that we need, not a new DE.

[Murple2]

You say 'clam shell' I say 'small laptop'. Whatever software is developed/used for telephony will be usable across distros. What is far more pertinent is the desktop environment
/window manager being targeted. Not many people make phone calls from a Linux desktop so there is definitely some development to be done.

I think that people go overboard when they think that use as a phone dictates needing an entirely different DE.  All it really needs to be is a single 'Telephony' application.

Open it, it goes full screen.  In Psion fashion a horizontal row of telephony function icons run left-right at the bottom of the screen.
Messaging selected, messaging 'from who' contact lists on the left, content of the highlighted message on the right.
Phone selected, recent contacts list on the left, dial pad on the right.
Contacts selected, contacts list on the left, highlighted contact's details on the right.

Minimize it or close the lid and it runs in background.  It is a Telephony application that we need, not a new DE.

I totally agree. I wasn't suggesting we need a new DE, I more referring to the different toolkits e.g GTK, Qt, EFL. But even then that's only the GUI portion of the app. Personally I use command line apps over anything else, and seeing as the Gemini has a keyboard that's definitely the way I'll be going. And I'm sure you are aware there already are telephony apps for Linux.

[Grench]

You say 'clam shell' I say 'small laptop'. Whatever software is developed/used for telephony will be usable across distros. What is far more pertinent is the desktop environment
/window manager being targeted. Not many people make phone calls from a Linux desktop so there is definitely some development to be done.

I think that people go overboard when they think that use as a phone dictates needing an entirely different DE.  All it really needs to be is a single 'Telephony' application.

Open it, it goes full screen.  In Psion fashion a horizontal row of telephony function icons run left-right at the bottom of the screen.
Messaging selected, messaging 'from who' contact lists on the left, content of the highlighted message on the right.
Phone selected, recent contacts list on the left, dial pad on the right.
Contacts selected, contacts list on the left, highlighted contact's details on the right.

Minimize it or close the lid and it runs in background.  It is a Telephony application that we need, not a new DE.

I totally agree. I wasn't suggesting we need a new DE, I more referring to the different toolkits e.g GTK, Qt, EFL. But even then that's only the GUI portion of the app. Personally I use command line apps over anything else, and seeing as the Gemini has a keyboard that's definitely the way I'll be going. And I'm sure you are aware there already are telephony apps for Linux.

What little I've searched for Linux telephony or Linux mobile phone application - most of what I end up with are either call center VOIP solutions or instructions on installing Ubuntu onto an Android phone.  If you have some Linux telephony apps that you like or even are aware of, we should probably start compiling those so people can try/test/modify/etc. once they get a Gemini - or a  Pyra for that matter.

[Steve Marinos]

My experience with a linux cellphone was with the N900/Maemo, and I got to say it was the best experience ever, it had a solid community on a solid base to make the device act like a full PC on a scale of a cellphone, to me this was innovation and was waiting for the next device "N950" till microsoft decided to shot the open source project and the N950 was only available to devs and such and all faded away, up till today no other device had really got me interested on the scale of the N900 till now with Gemini, I believe Gemini has the same potentials to be the future N900 for me ...

[Grench]

If I were able to re-vote in this poll, I would vote for Sailfish OS.  The more I read up on it the more it appears that they may have already conquered the largest portion of the 'headaches' associated with getting Linux working on a handheld phone.

+ Utilizes the Android drivers from the manufacturer for 3D graphics, communications (4G), etc.  The lack of Linux 3D drivers for the Mediatek X25/X27 has no current direct solution for other Linux options.

+ Is Linux right down to the command line.

+ Allows the install of Android programs to run in the Linux OS.  How seamlessly - no idea yet.

- Apparently they have their own funky DE shortcuts that require users to bother to learn.  I.e. may not be intuitive to users.

I'm looking forward to trying it out.  Someday.