Lindroid is an Android app that lets you run Linux in a container, with support for hardware-acceleration. Official group: https://t.me/linux_on_droid

1. Ensure your device has the necessary configurations:

   • Obtain a usable device configuration, kernel source, and ROM source code for your device.

2. Clone the necessary repositories Linux-on-droid repository:

   • Clone vendor_lindroid from to $ANDROID_BUILD_TOP/vendor/lindroid.
   • Clone external_lxc to $ANDROID_BUILD_TOP/external/lxc.
   • Clone libhybris (use the staging/lindroid-20 branch) to $ANDROID_BUILD_TOP/libhybris.
   • Cherry-pick or am/apply the patch from this commit to $ANDROID_BUILD_TOP/system/core.

3. Modify device configurations:

   • Add $(call inherit-product, vendor/lindroid/lindroid.mk) to your device's mk file.
   • Add BOARD_KERNEL_CMDLINE += androidboot.selinux=permissive or BOARD_BOOTCONFIG += androidboot.selinux=permissive for GKI devices to BoardConfig.mk.
   • Ensure SELinux is set to permissive mode for Lindroid.

4. Kernel configuration:

   • For non-GKI devices, refer to kernel configurations for enabling LXC/Docker support.(Search keywords 'lxc docker android' in GitHub) Make sure to add CONFIG_VT=y.
   • Example kernel configurations provided by Lindroid developers include:

     +CONFIG_SYSVIPC=y
     +CONFIG_UTS_NS=y
     +CONFIG_PID_NS=y
     +CONFIG_IPC_NS=y
     +CONFIG_USER_NS=y
     +CONFIG_NET_NS=y
     +CONFIG_CGROUP_DEVICE=y
     +CONFIG_KERNEL_CGROUP_FREEZER=y (likely `CONFIG_CGROUP_FREEZER`)
     

   • For GKI 5.10, refer to this source and ensure CONFIG_VT=y. For 5.15 and 6.1, explore the configurations accordingly.
   • I recommend that compile KernelSU simultaneously for root access (use v0.9.5 tag for non-GKI). Or use magisk etc.

5. Build your ROM using the userdebug variant:

   • Avoid using user variant for now.
   • If FCM (Framework Compatibility Matrix) errors occur, leading to OTA package build failure, manually build images (make systemimage vendorimage productimage bootimage ...) and flash them using fastboot in fastbootd.

1. Download and prepare the root filesystem

   • Download the pre-packaged Debian image from Lindroid website.
   • Push it to /data/data/org.lindroid.ui/files/rootfs.tar.gz (rename to rootfs).
   • Open Lindroid and follow the prompts to create the container.

2. Configure your device

   • Ensure network connection, disable auto-rotate, set screen timeout to 30 minutes, and grant root access to shell in developer options.
   • Use adb shell or terminal to enter:

     su
     lxc_ls
     lxc_attach default
     /bin/bash -c "source /etc/profile && exec su - root"

   • Optionally, change Debian source mirrors for CN users: sed -i 's/deb.debian.org/mirrors.bfsu.edu.cn/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
   • Then upgrade all packages (Especially Kwin etc. from lindroid)

     apt update && apt-get -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-overwrite" full-upgrade

3. Test and configure the graphical interface:

   • Test graphics with test_hwcomposer.
   • Start or restart SDDM service:

     systemctl restart sddm

   • If touch doesn't work, try:

     sudo setcap cap_dac_read_search+ep /usr/bin/startplasma-wayland
     sudo setcap cap_dac_read_search+ep /usr/bin/kwin_wayland
     sudo setcap cap_dac_read_search+ep /usr/bin/sddm

   • Use evtest to check for Lindroid virtual input devices. Adjust /dev/uinput permissions if needed and restart Lindroid in adb shell.

     chmod 777 /dev/uinput
     am force-stop org.lindroid.ui

• Subsequent usage may encounter touch issues; restart Lindroid and SDDM as needed.
• Use plasma-settings instead of system-settings for now.
• External keyboard/mouse is recommended. KDE Connect can help with remote control.
• Strongly suggest SSH for better terminal experience.

This guide is a compilation of my personal exploration and guidance from Lindroid developers [Erfan Abdi, Luka, Nick].

Expect some initial issues, but it’s a promising start. Explore further on your own.