It’s a big question. I know.
But given that we have the source code to Android (AOSP) and the community to collaborate with, couldn’t we just create an entire ROM filled with the necessary applications and utilities, all open source, and with modern UI?
It’ll take a shit load of time, and effort. Definitely. But maybe if we banded together? A unified OS running only open source software, with the option for Google Services via something like MicroG, so that we don’t need to worry.
I’m no expert. I’m just floating an idea. But I’d love to know if this is possible, step-by-step…
Edit: I know custom ROMs are a thing. I use one. I’m just saying, what if we go ahead and make an open source ecosystem that runs under the same project, so that there’s a set of services and apps that are free, open source and non-corporate.
Edit2: I forgot the Lineage project exists. Nevermind 🤦🏻♂️. Let’s just try to support it. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
At this point, I’d be more than willing to use a Linux based distro that’s a full-on desktop distro scaled down for the size of a phone screen and made to work with a variety of phone hardware and just use something like Waydroid or whatever would be better for the few games and apps I actually use daily.
Though I feel we are very far away from that since the closest we have that I know of is Ubuntu Touch, which I don’t know whether it’s even still worked on or not. I’d definitely devote time or funds if I had either the know-how to make the dream a reality or disposable income to help fund it, though.
Sure there are AOSP ROMs that provide privacy and that do their best to remove all traces of gøøgl€ exist, but at this point I feel like we need more options like a desktop distro like experience for mobile. That’s just my unimportant 2¢ on the subject, though.
There is huge progress on the Mobile Linux front and Ubuntu Touch is still very much a thing but all of it is far from ready. The majore issue with phones is their closed source drivers and hellscape of vendor specific kernels tho, if they had mainline Linux kernels vendors could update them forever with relatively little effort, custom ROMs wouldn’t need devixe specific ports and we could use much of the current mobile Linux progress accross a wide range of devices!
Typing this from my OnePlus 6T running postmarketOS. I have Waydroid installed. It works quite well. The Linux phone experience is getting consistently better all the time, but I have been keeping a spare Android phone around for calls as calls still have issues with Linux phone (missing audio sometimes, no Bluetooth handsfree support).