Hey LQ,

I've managed to install Ubuntu on my Nexus before, instantly hated it. Sad to say I hated it more than Android, which is saying something. For the record, I hate Android the least of all the mobile OS options available.

So... if it's possible to install Ubuntu on a nexus, surely it's possible to install Debian? Any ideas how can I get a linux distro onto my phone other than Ubuntu?

Check the repos at F-Droid.org There is one called 'Lil' Debi' or something like that. It runs 'beside' android.

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yes, it's possible to run debian inside an android phone, like inside a virtual machine, not quite sure how it's done, but it's not the real deal imho.

i was recently asking the same question as op, and after a lot of futile searching i gave up on it:
- there's no readily available linux for phones distro, other than ubuntu.
- i am not proficient enough to build something for e.g. ARM processor architecture, and then start building a desktop/touchscreen environment on top of that.

that said, if you're lucky enough to own some specific hardware, some people have made efforts and it just might fit. sorry i don't remember the details.

i used cyanogenmod for a while, but it's not too exiting.

btw, i'd be interested to know how you managed to install ubuntu on a phone. was it ubuntu phone?

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I just followed this guide here:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Touch/DualBootInstallation

It was pretty straight forward. I'm tempted to try and build my own mobile pc that is roughly the same size of a smart phone. It won't be pretty but it would be functional. I've seen people pull this off with Raspbian on the Pi platform. Arduino, Beaglebone etc.

that looks interesting.
but i suspect it's not a true, 100% dual-boot (the operating systems exist side-by-side and independently from each other).
i don't know, have to read it more carefully.

I didn't explore super deep into the file system but it seemed to completely wipe the internal storage minus the firmware that launches the os.

This was my experience too. I ditched Ubuntu phone because they did not have an email client. They might have one now. I would probably go back ( from Cyanogenmod ) if they did.

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