hi

As the subject line states, is it possible? I've heard it's not easy to replace the chrome OS with another version of linux, If that is the case. does a chromebook allows us to install some gnu/linux programs on it?

Someone wants to sell me their chromebook but I need to know first about using linux programs on it. Thanks

Yes. Crouton allows

what you want for people like you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGvC0TWPk-g

If I buy the chromebook, I'll give crouton a try. I was hoping I could install gnu/linux programs natively on the chromebook itself. It's weird how the chrome OS and android uses a linux kernel and it doesn't allow us to easily install linux programs.

Thanks a bunch rokytnji

The reason is that both are aimed at a targeted use. Neither uses the runtime libraries that a general distribution uses. So you have to add the runtime. Ubuntu has done this for both.

I didn't know that. But I do now

Thanks

I think of them as being embedded systems - Android specifically as that was the original design. ChromeOS is a bit different, but still has a much reduced runtime. In Android I believe (not absolutely certain) that the libc library is actually built into the interpreter (Dex/Art/whatever); in ChromeOS I think libc is much reduced in size - including only the functions needed by the OS, and leaves out all the other libraries.

This both explains the boot speed that they get, as well as the more limited need for updates. But it also makes the devices a bit less flexible. Nothing says the full libraries can't be added - the system calls are the same either way... The biggest issue is access to the display. Ubuntu has solved that, though I'm not certain how they did it.