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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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what foss phone OS do you use and why? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I was thinking about using graphene OS, but I've read some lemmy users dislike this OS due to perceived misleading advertising and the pixel 7a you're supposed to install graphene on because it's from google (an advertising company).

Another option would be lineage OS, but there is so much false information about this OS, namely compatible phones that simply don't work with this OS and no support.

what works for you? I want a phone with no google, that doesn't force me to use the manufacturer's ecosystem and that won't show the apps I don't want or need (on an asus I own you cannot neither get rid nor hide bloatware)

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I appreciate the info. For my own learning, could you provide a link to some context around the types of official binaries leveraged by microG? The only firm info I have of its behaviour is that it will pseudonomise as much user information as possible.

I'm familiar with sandboxed google play on grapheneOS and have used it in the past.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

No I dont know what they download. It should be in the scripts in their repo.

But they dont document that at all, instead giving the impression that it would be reverse engineered and open source.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I appreciate that you're trying to inform me but if you make such a claim, you should be able to prove it.

A friend was able to provide some context, regardless:

The one binary I'm aware of microG downloading (assuming it still does) is the SafetyNet "DroidGuard" thing, which it only does if you explicitly enable SafetyNet, which is not on by default. There is no other way to provide it.
microG only has privileged access if you install it as a privileged app, which is up to you / your distribution, as microG works fine as a user app (provided signature spoofing is available to it). Also, being privileged itself really doesn't mean giving privileges to "Google".
Apps needing Google services may indeed contain all sorts of binaries, generally including Google ones, which doesn't mean they contain Google services themselves. Anyway, they are proprietary apps and as such will certainly contain proprietary things, and it's all to you to install them or not. It's not like microG includes them.
Its also just a reimplementation of a small handful of useful Google services, such as push notifications, or the maps (not the spyware stuff like advertising) and each can be toggled on/off.
Also all apps on android are sandboxed

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Also, SafetyNet is deprecated, and Google has said that app developers shouldn't use it for a long time before that, so I've never had to use it. My experience of a blob-free microG has been really good, and I trust FOSS code a hell of a lot more than sandboxed proprietary code, because I can't be sure what it does with the data I inevitably do provide it.

MicroG has also been very clear IMO about SafetyNet not being a reimplementation, but rather a sandbox when it was relevant.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

Appreciate the additional context! Have thankfully not needed to use the safetynet module with microg either.