📱
Built for Android
Install the APK, configure your Linux environment, and manage profiles and settings from a dedicated Android interface.
ANDROID · LINUX · ARM64 · V0.4 · BUILD 10
Linux desktop.
No boundaries.
GassNative is an experimental Android application that brings a Debian ARM64 Linux userspace and XFCE desktop experience to compatible Android devices. Explore Linux tools on the device you already carry.
GassNative · Linux desktop
Debian LinuxA desktop that travels with you.
user@gassnative:~$ cat /etc/os-release
PRETTY_NAME="Debian GNU/Linux"
user@gassnative:~$ echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
XFCE
user@gassnative:~$ ▌
Meet the project
What is GassNative?
GassNative v0.4 — Build 10 brings a refreshed Android interface with dedicated Radio, TV and Games screens, alongside desktop improvements. The app manages a Debian ARM64 userspace, while PRoot provides a rootless way to run Linux userspace tools.
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A Debian Linux userspace
Use Debian ARM64 packages and an XFCE desktop session. App compatibility and performance depend on the package and device.
Features
Your Linux environment.
Your way.
Explore the desktop, tools and possibilities of Linux on mobile hardware—with clear notes about what is experimental.
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Debian ARM64
A Debian 13 Trixie ARM64 userspace for compatible 64-bit Android devices.
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XFCE desktop
A lightweight desktop with familiar panels, windows and applications.
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PRoot environment
Runs Linux userspace through PRoot without requiring Android root access; it is not a full virtual machine.
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Native Android app
Manage installation, profiles, DNS, bind mounts and environment settings from the Android interface.
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Display research
Ongoing exploration of Wayland, Xwayland and integrated display rendering.
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Graphics exploration
GPU acceleration is experimental; not every app or device is guaranteed to use hardware rendering.
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Radio
A dedicated radio screen for supported internet radio streams.
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TV
A dedicated TV screen for compatible video streams and playlists.
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Games
A dedicated games hub for supported games and launch options.
Watch it in action
GassNative Demo.
See GassNative bringing a Debian Linux desktop to Android. Watch the short demo below.
Video by Gass-OS · Watch on YouTube ↗
Under the hood
Linux foundations.
Mobile experience.
GassNative combines a Java Android application, PRoot, Debian ARM64 userspace and an integrated desktop display layer. It is an evolving project, and not every Linux application is guaranteed to work.
The roadmap
Built to evolve.
Development explores input handling, desktop integration, display performance and graphics acceleration.
Get started
Check your setup.
Android 7.0+API level 24 or newer
ARM64 device64-bit ARM recommended
Free storageSpace for APK and Linux files
⚠ GassNative is experimental software. GPU acceleration, desktop rendering and application compatibility may vary by device and release. Review the release notes before installing.
Welcome to GassNative
Take Linux with you.
Download the latest release or explore the code and follow the project's progress.