TranslateProject/sources/tech/20200922 Run Linux apps on your Chromebook.md

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[#]: collector: (lujun9972)
[#]: translator: ( )
[#]: reviewer: ( )
[#]: publisher: ( )
[#]: url: ( )
[#]: subject: (Run Linux apps on your Chromebook)
[#]: via: (https://opensource.com/article/20/9/linux-chromebook)
[#]: author: (Don Watkins https://opensource.com/users/don-watkins)
Run Linux apps on your Chromebook
======
Run all the Linux apps you want using Crostini on your Chromebook.
![Person drinking a hot drink at the computer][1]
Chromebooks have been a game-changer for PreK-12 school systems, enabling them to purchase low-cost laptop computers for students, teachers, and administrators to use. While [Chromebooks][2] have always been powered by a Linux-based operating system (Chrome OS), until recently, there was no way to run most Linux apps on one. But that changed when Google released [Crostini][3], a virtual machine that allows Chromebooks to run Linux (Beta).
Most Chromebooks released after 2019 and some earlier models can run Crostini and Linux (Beta). Check this [list of supported devices][4] to see if your Chromebook is on it. Fortunately, my Acer Chromebook 15 with 2GB RAM and an Intel Celeron processor is supported.
![Acer Chromebook specs][5]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
I recommend using a Chromebook with 4GB RAM and more disk space if you plan to install a lot of Linux applications.
### Set up Linux (Beta)
After you sign into your Chromebook, "mouse over" to the lower-right corner of the screen where the clock is displayed, and left-click there. A panel will open with options at the top (from left to right) to sign out, shut down, lock, and open Settings. Choose the **Settings** icon.
![Chromebook Settings button][7]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
Look on the left side of the **Settings** panel, and you will see **Linux (Beta)** listed.
![Chromebook Settings][8]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
Click on **Linux (Beta),** and the main panel will change to present an option to launch it. Click the **Turn on** button.
![Turn on Linux \(Beta\)][9]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
It will start the process of setting up a Linux environment on your Chromebook.
![Setting up Linux \(Beta\)][10]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
Next, you will be prompted to enter a **Username** and the size you want your Linux installation to be.
![Setting up Linux \(Beta\)][11]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
It takes a few minutes to install Linux on your Chromebook.
![Installing Linux \(Beta\)][12]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
After the installation completes, you can use Linux on your Chromebook. The menu bar on the bottom of your Chromebook's display has a shortcut to a **terminal**, a text-based interface you can use to interact with Linux.
![Linux \(Beta\) terminal][13]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
You can use [common Linux commands][14] like `ls`, `lscpu`, and `top` to see more of your environment. You can install applications using `sudo apt install`.
### Install your first Linux application
Being able to install and run free and open source software on a Chromebook can be a real winner for financially constrained school districts.
The first application I recommend installing is the [Mu editor][15] for Python. Install it by entering the following into your terminal:
```
`$ sudo apt install mu-editor`
```
It takes a bit over five minutes to install, but in the end, you'll have access to a really good Python editor for students and anyone else who wants to learn Python.
I've had great success using [Mu and Python as a learning tool][16]. For example, I have taught my students to write code for Python's turtle module and execute it to create graphics. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to use Mu with a [BBC:Microbit][17] open hardware board. Even though the Microbit connects to USB and there is USB support in the Chromebook's Linux virtual environment, I couldn't make it work.
![Mu editor][18]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
Once you've installed an application, it will show up in a special **Linux Apps** menu, which you can see on the lower-right of this screenshot.
![Linux Apps menu][19]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
### Install other applications
You can install more than just a programming language and code editor. In fact, you can install most of your favorite open source applications.
For example, you can install the LibreOffice suite with:
```
`$ sudo apt install libreoffice`
```
The open source audio software [Audacity][20] is one of my other favorite classroom applications. My Chromebook's microphone works with Audacity, making it easy to create podcasts or edit free sounds from [Wikimedia Commons][21]. It's easy to install Audacity on a Chromebook—with the Crostini virtual environment running, open the terminal and enter:
```
`$ sudo apt install audacity`
```
Then launch Audacity from the command line or look for it in the **Linux Apps** section of the Chromebook menu.
![Audacity][22]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
I also easily installed [TuxMath][23] and [TuxType][24], a couple of great applications for education. I was even able to install and run the image editor [GIMP][25]. All the Linux applications come from Debian Linux repositories.
![GIMP][26]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
### Share files
There is a utility within Linux (Beta) to back up and restore your files. You can also share files between your Linux (Beta) virtual machine and your Chromebook by opening the **Files** app on the Chromebook and right-clicking on the folder you want to share. You can choose to share all of your Chromebook files or create a special folder for shared files. While you are in the Linux virtual machine, you can access this folder by browsing to `/mnt/chromeos`.
![Sharing files][27]
(Don Watkins, [CC BY-SA 4.0][6])
### Learn more
The [documentation][28] for Linux (Beta) is very complete, so read it thoroughly to learn more about its capabilities. Some key takeaways from the documentation are:
* Cameras are not yet supported.
* Android devices are supported over USB.
* Hardware acceleration is not yet supported.
* You can access the microphone.
Are you using Linux applications on your Chromebook? Tell us all about it in the comments!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
via: https://opensource.com/article/20/9/linux-chromebook
作者:[Don Watkins][a]
选题:[lujun9972][b]
译者:[译者ID](https://github.com/译者ID)
校对:[校对者ID](https://github.com/校对者ID)
本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译,[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出
[a]: https://opensource.com/users/don-watkins
[b]: https://github.com/lujun9972
[1]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/styles/image-full-size/public/lead-images/coffee_tea_laptop_computer_work_desk.png?itok=D5yMx_Dr (Person drinking a hot drink at the computer)
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromebook
[3]: https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/containers_and_vms.md
[4]: https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/chrome-os-systems-supporting-linux
[5]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-specs.png (Acer Chromebook specs)
[6]: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
[7]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-settings.png (Chromebook Settings button)
[8]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-linux-beta.png (Chromebook Settings)
[9]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-launch-linux-beta.png (Turn on Linux (Beta))
[10]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-setup-linux-beta_0.png (Setting up Linux (Beta))
[11]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-linux-beta-username.png (Setting up Linux (Beta))
[12]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-linux-beta-install.png (Installing Linux (Beta))
[13]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-linux-terminal.png (Linux (Beta) terminal)
[14]: https://opensource.com/downloads/linux-common-commands-cheat-sheet
[15]: https://codewith.mu
[16]: https://opensource.com/article/20/9/teaching-python-mu
[17]: https://opensource.com/article/19/8/getting-started-bbc-microbit
[18]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-mu.png (Mu editor)
[19]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-linux-apps.png (Linux Apps menu)
[20]: https://www.audacityteam.org/
[21]: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Free_media_resources/Sound
[22]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-audacity.png (Audacity)
[23]: https://sourceforge.net/projects/tuxmath/
[24]: https://sourceforge.net/projects/tuxtype/
[25]: https://www.gimp.org/
[26]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-gimp.png (GIMP)
[27]: https://opensource.com/sites/default/files/uploads/chromebook-linux-share-files.png (Sharing files)
[28]: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439?p=chromebook_linuxapps&b=banon-signed-mpkeys&visit_id=637346541887671598-1548999339&rd=1