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Do Chromebooks run on Linux? Definitely not as advertised. Google doesn’t tell you that Chromebooks come with Linux. They are running Chrome OS and Google is taking over what could be a desktop operating system. But while Chrome OS looks and feels different, Chrome OS is based on Linux. So when we talk about Linux, are we also talking about Chrome OS? Here are eight points to keep in mind.
Chromebooks use the Linux kernel
Linux is not technically an operating system. It is a kernel, a part of your computer that allows your computers to communicate with programs. The core is why things happen when you press buttons and why you can see things on your screen. All the programs you see on your screen? This is not Linux. Linux has simply become an acronym for operating systems (also known as distributions or distros for short) that are built using the Linux kernel. Chrome OS uses the Linux kernel, so according to this standard, Chrome OS is the Linux desktop.
Chrome OS is based on Gentoo
Chrome OS doesn’t just use the Linux kernel. Actually, it is built on top of the Gentoo Linux distribution. This means that much of what goes on behind the scenes is not code developed by Google. It comes from the broader Linux community. However, don’t expect to be immersed in the Gentoo experience. Even if you follow the steps for a full Linux installation on your Chromebook, Gentoo won’t be the one running.
You can install some Linux applications
The argument that Chrome OS is Linux doesn’t stop there. Chrome OS now offers the option to install traditional Linux desktop apps using crostini. Now, these apps aren’t what brings people to Chrome OS. You need to check first to make sure the Chromebook is compatible with the Linux app. If so, you can run native Linux desktop apps like GIMP and VLC on your Chromebook without having to switch it to developer mode or replace Chrome OS entirely.
Chrome OS and GNU are practically incompatible
So far it seems clear that Chrome OS is Linux. So why is this even a question? Well, when you see Linux being talked about online, have you noticed that it is often spelled as GNU/Linux? This is because many of the components that are currently used to provide a fully functional Linux desktop already existed before the Linux kernel. They came as part of the GNU Project. Much of what we associate with Linux has more to do with GNU than with Linux. Chrome OS is based on Linux, but does not share the applications, values, or culture of the GNU Project. Sure it’s Linux, but it’s not really GNU.
Is Chrome OS free and open source?
An essential part of the GNU Project is making free software, where “free” does not refer to price but to your freedom to view, edit, and share the code. This is also known as open source software. The Linux kernel is freeware. It is available under the GNU General Public License, which ensures that the Linux kernel and all changes made to it remain free to use and shared by everyone. All GNU programs are also free programs.
Much of what is included with Chrome OS is also free software, as it is available for anyone to download in the form of Chromium OS. You can install and run Chromium OS on your device. But the full experience you get on a Chromebook contains dozens of closed source code. Google adds proprietary bits to the browser, and most of the apps and extensions it installs are also closed source. So even if most of the code that goes into Chrome OS is open, most of the bits you consciously interact with aren’t, just like on Android.
You can’t change your desktop environment
This black icon has a tangible impact on your experience with your Chromebook. Compared to your typical Linux desktop, you have relatively little freedom when it comes to setting up or modifying your experience. You cannot choose an alternative interface to the one provided by Google. You cannot change the audio or display server. However, you can choose your own app store or preferred package format. In short, while most Linux desktops give you the freedom to configure your computer however you want, Chrome OS doesn’t. Either use Chrome OS the way Google designed it, or use Croton to replace the proper GNU/Linux desktop instead of Chrome OS.
It’s easier to replace Chrome OS with Linux or use the two together than with Windows, but just like with Windows, they still feel like two separate things. If the code is available online for anyone to view, modify, and share, then yes, it is open source. This is true for Chromium OS, which is the code that makes up a large part of Chrome OS. But this is only part of the story. Most Linux distributions are not only open source or give you a way to contribute, they actively seek your input in steering the project. It was also developed outdoors. There are mailing lists that people can subscribe to and monitor conversations about the direction of the project. Or there is a forum, GitHub, or GitLab page. With Chromium OS, you’re also invited to participate, but the direction of the project is mostly determined internally at Google.
Chrome apps are not Linux apps
There are many desktop environments in the Linux ecosystem. They look and act in completely different ways. But although GNOME and KDE Plasma are different from each other, you can run an application built for one inside the other. Most Linux software is interoperable, even if it doesn’t integrate well and seems out of place. This is not the case with Chrome OS. To be fair, the software is generally not designed for Chrome OS. It is an Android app or Chrome extension. And yes, you can install Chrome on Linux. But these extensions require Chrome and Android apps require an emulator. Chrome OS exists in its own ecosystem separate from the rest of Linux.
Final words: Is Chrome OS Desktop Linux? Everything you should know
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