[#]: 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