[Replicant] GNU/Android

[Josh Branning]

Just to let the list know, a while back I did have a go at cross 
compiling Replicant on glibc using libhybris (bionic support for glibc) 
and the linux-libre kernel, but found that the kernels were too 
different (complained about ashmem support) to get any further.

I had a look at Nacl sel_ldr, ARChon and Arc welder, but they seemed to 
be bogged down with too much proprietary-ness, and would require a lot 
of work to be usable.

I am happy to use Replicant, I know, it is free software, but personally 
I would like to see a way to merge Android and Linux into something that 
can work together.

There are other projects, like IcedRobot (now defunct), apkenv (doesn't 
run all android apps) and virtualization (slow), but these have flaws 
which make them difficult to work with.

Apparently the Windows operating system (I know, I hate Windows too) has 
managed to make tablet/phone, without keyboard and tablet/computer, with 
keyboard, usable, in the same operating system, by changing the GUI 
depending on which interfaces are available. I do not expect that all 
non-touchscreen apps can be used with a touch screen, but it's certainly 
possible to make things 'easier' for the user when switching between 
things. There are several devices now, like a laptop, where the keyboard 
can be detached to make a tablet.

Anyway, it's a shame in someways that the android kernel is different 
enough for Android software to complain if using a Linux kernel.