| UserLAnd | |
|---|---|
 | |
 UserLAnd In Use | |
| Developers | UserLAnd Technologies, LLC |
| Initial release | October 17, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-10-17) |
| Stable release | |
| Repository | github |
| Written in | Kotlin andJava |
| Operating system | Android |
| Size | 14.04MB |
| Available in | 10 languages |
| Type | Compatibility layer |
| License | GPLv3 |
| Website | userland |
UserLAnd Technologies is afree and open-sourcecompatibility layermobile app that allowsLinuxdistributions,computer programs,computer games andnumerical computing programs to run onmobile devices without requiring aroot account. UserLAnd also provides aprogram library of popular free and open-source Linux-based programs to which additional programs and different versions of programs can be added.
The name "UserLAnd" is a reference to the concept ofuserland in modern computeroperating systems.
Unlike otherLinuxcompatibility layermobile apps, UserLAnd does not require aroot account.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] UserLAnd's ability to function withoutroot directories, also known as "rooting," avoids "bricking" or the non-functionality of the mobile device while the Linux program is in use, which in addition to making the mobile device non-functional may void the device's warranty.[4] Furthermore, the requirement of programs other than UserLAnd to "root" your mobile device has proven a formidable challenge for inexperienced Linux users.[6] A prior application, GNURoot Debian, attempted to similarly run Linux programs on mobile devices, but it has ceased to be maintained and, therefore, is no longer operational.[6]
UserLAnd allows those with a mobile device to run Linux programs, many of which aren't available as mobile apps.[2][3][4][5][6][8][10] Even for those Linux applications, e.g.Firefox, which have mobile versions available, people often find that their user experience with these mobile versions pales in comparison with theirdesktop.[11] UserLAnd allows its users to recreate that desktop experience on their mobile device.
UserLAnd currently only operates onAndroid mobile devices. UserLAnd is available fordownload onGoogle Play andF-Droid.[12][13]
To use UserLAnd, one must first download – typically from F-Droid or the Google Play Store – the application and then install it.[4][5][6][11] Once installed, a user selects an app to open.[4][5][6][11] When a program is selected, the user is prompted to enterlogin information and select a connection type.[4][5][6][11] Following this, the user gains access to their selected program.[4][5][6][11]
UserLAnd is pre-loaded with thedistributionsAlpine,Arch,Debian,Kali, andUbuntu; theweb browserFirefox; thedesktop environmentsLXDE andXfce; thedeployment environmentsGit andIDLE; thetext-based gamesColossal Cave Adventure andZork; thenumerical computing programsgnuplot,GNU Octave andR; theoffice suiteLibreOffice; and thegraphics editorsGIMP andInkscape. Further Linux programs and different versions of programs may be added to thisprogram library.
A review onSlant.co listed UserLAnd's "Pro's": support forVNC X sessions, no "rooting" required, easysetup, and that it'sfree and open-source; and "Con's": its lack of support forLollipop and the difficulty of use for non-technical users.[14] On the contrary, OS Journal found that the lack of a need to "root" your mobile device made using UserLAnd considerably easier than Linuxcompatibility layer applications, a position shared with SlashGear's review of UserLAnd.[6][8] OS Journal went on to state that with UserLAnd one could do "almost anything" and "you’re (only) limited by your insanity" with respect to what you can do with the application.[6]Linux Journal stated that "UserLAnd offers a quick and easy way to run an entire Linux distribution, or even just a Linux application or game, from your pocket."[3] SlashGear stated that UserLAnd is "absolutely super simple to use and requires little to no technical knowledge to get off the ground running."[8]
