Open Source for Phones: PostmarketOS
8 days ago
- #Linux
- #mobile
- #open-source
- Luca Weiss discusses the need for an open-source phone OS due to Android's increasing privacy and freedom issues.
- Android's dominance comes with Google Play Services, requiring manufacturers to follow Google's rules, limiting independence and raising concerns about future openness.
- postmarketOS is introduced as a fully open-source alternative, aiming for long-term device support by using upstream Linux kernels and minimizing device-specific code.
- The project is volunteer-driven, using Alpine Linux as a base, and focuses on upstream kernel contributions to ensure compatibility and access to new features.
- postmarketOS currently supports a wide range of devices, though it's more suited for hackers than average users, with plans to improve and expand functionality.
- Contributions are welcomed from both developers and non-developers, covering areas like hardware enablement, UI improvements, documentation, and community outreach.