linuxdeploy

Linux Deploy is an Android app that lets you install and run a full Linux operating system alongside Android on the same device. Instead of replacing Android, it creates a contained Linux environment that runs on top of it, using a technique called chroot. The two systems coexist on the same device, and you can start and stop the Linux system from the app without affecting Android.

The app works by creating a disk image file (or using a directory or partition) on the device, then downloading a Linux distribution from official internet mirrors and installing it into that space. Supported distributions include Debian, Ubuntu, Alpine, Arch, Fedora, Kali, and several others. The whole process takes around 15 minutes. The minimum recommended disk image size is about 1 GB if you want a graphical desktop environment, or 512 MB for a command-line-only setup.

Once installed, you can access the Linux system through several methods: an SSH terminal for command-line access, VNC for a graphical desktop you view remotely, or direct framebuffer and X11 display modes. Supported desktop environments include LXDE, Xfce, and MATE, among others. Passwords for SSH and VNC are generated automatically on first setup and can be changed later.

The app works best with root access on the Android device, though it can run without it in some configurations. All changes are reversible: uninstalling the app and its components removes the Linux system completely. The app is available on Google Play or as a direct APK download from GitHub.

The README also includes a performance section with read and write speed measurements for different file systems on an older Samsung device, and installation time estimates for different desktop environment choices.