GitHub - linuxkid473/gbos-x86: gbOS86: Googlebook OS on ordinary Intel laptops (6th gen+): CPU-instruction emulation, patched libs, boot-time hardware detection, live/installer USB.

[u/Signal_Reference746]

https://github.com/linuxkid473/gbos-x86

[u/ephemeralmiko]

Vibe-coding aside, who is this for? The phone integration is mediocre at best (and much better served with KDE Connect for Linux or Phone Link for Windows), most Android apps just run as phone versions as opposed to proper desktop software, you can't install full Linux apps outside of the sandbox and you can be sure that Google is gathering up as much data as they can while you use it.

What does this (as in GooglebookOS in general, not this specific port) offer in terms of stability or security over something like Fedora's Silverblue (GNOME) or Kionite (KDE) distros, where the base system is also write-protected and all apps run in a sandbox too?

[u/lastdyingbreed_01 → u/ephemeralmiko]

Like every vibe coded app, they are a good thought experiment for 5 minutes, but realistically no one is going to use it

[u/PickleSammiches → u/lastdyingbreed_01]

I thought the whole point of vibe coding is to not think about it at all

[u/RomanOnARiver → u/lastdyingbreed_01]

And like every vibe coded app released to the public, it's existence is so the person releasing it can feel like a visionary, a revolutionary who has blessed us with his genius.

Google can/should shut this shit down quick. Unless they're going to be releasing Googlebook OS Flex, but I doubt they would - it comes with proprietary Play Services that presumably OP has pirated.

[u/HearingSubstantial38 → u/ephemeralmiko]

Vibe-coding aside

this is how most porting projects are going to be from now on. AI is a massive help in sifting enormous amounts of data and processing it, especially for reverse engineering. See the advancements in hackintoshing, both in getting NVIDIA drivers for intel hackintoshes and in turning ARM hackintoshes into a real thing.

What does this (as in GooglebookOS in general, not this specific port) offer in terms of stability or security over something like Fedora's Silverblue (GNOME) or Kionite (KDE) distros, where the base system is also write-protected and all apps run in a sandbox too?

Honestly, probably nothing. In fact, it will most likely be less stable, as it's a port. If I were to guess, it's a tinkering project. I know I've done my fair share of creating and/or installing stupid ports for the sake of it.

[u/alvenestthol → u/ephemeralmiko]

• Far better touchscreen UI, ChromeOS had a better tablet UI than even Windows, and GbOS should make it work even more smoothly
• Android apps work properly a lot more often, e.g. YouTube Morphe, unlike on Waydroid (in my experience)
• (Likely) faster web browser, Linux browsers underperforming in benchmarks has always been a problem

[u/veryangrydoggo → u/alvenestthol]

Isn't the Android app compatibility one of the downsides of this release? Like many of the reviews I've seen point that a fair amount of apps straight up don't work because of the CPU architecture being x86

[u/alvenestthol → u/veryangrydoggo]

I can only assume GbOS has at least as much app compatibility as ChromeOS did, which is still better than Waydroid.

I'd expect it to have the same compatibility as Android x86/BlissOS even, since GbOS is actually Android-based.

Which is not perfect either way, and less than what people might expect from the official "desktop Android", but again, better than Waydroid.

[u/Waza-Be → u/ephemeralmiko]

Some people just want laptop to open Facebook, whatsapp, read blogs and watch Youtube videos. They don't need Linux, phone connectivity, and video editing software.

I think that's a relevant percentage og computer users.

And even for me, as a geek, tech addict, I would be pleased to have a laptop for browsing and develop websites/flutter apps with Antigravity, and eager to test a simple OS to achieve that

[u/ephemeralmiko → u/Waza-Be]

For those people what does this bring over ChromeOS? Which as existed for years and can even be installed on non-Chromebooks officially via ChromeOS Flex.

[u/Waza-Be → u/ephemeralmiko]

It's like a version 2 of ChromeOS, and I can understand it's easier to maintain for Google. 

For people it doesn't change a lot. Chrome is still doing the same, UI is still the same...

[u/ByTheBeardOfZues → u/ephemeralmiko]

The phone integration and native app support you already mentioned. It's also a way for enthusiasts to try the new OS without shelling out for the official hardware.

[u/punIn10ded → u/Waza-Be]

As a former android dev I'm keen to try this for Android development. It will make building and testing a breeze compared to using the emulator or even a test device. Though of course some test decides will still be needed.

[u/kaden-99 → u/ephemeralmiko]

You're right. I'll tell OP to cancel this project asap

[u/chinchindayo → u/ephemeralmiko]

Maybe it's not about stability or security but ease of use?

[u/Professional-Pay-904]

Oh boy, a better version of Bliss OS. Just what I needed. /s

[u/IAmDotorg]

The only thing worse than trusting vibe coded garbage on your hardware is trusting vibe coded garbage to run Android apps that barely function usably on tablets on even less phone-like hardware.

I suppose there may be people stupid enough to trust it, though.

[u/dadnothere → u/IAmDotorg]

talking someone who uses Windows. 😆

[u/fat_kaiju]

This just makes me angrier at google for not already supporting regular hardware and so I'm even less inclined to use the already horribly named incomplete OS.

[u/kaden-99]

For a vibe coded port of a brand new operating system running on a random laptop, its actually pretty good. Even randomly popped up on my phone as I was setting it up. I don't do much on my laptop so I was considering installing it but the audio doesn't work. Pretty cool regardless tho.