How viable is shifting from app to the web platform? Installable PWAs or PWA without installs.
Seems like it could be an alternative for most(?) things.
this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2025
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I don't want Android to be open. I want it to die.
Okay... Why?
I never liked the idea of that "obligatory Java". I would prefer something more like a common OS for running common programs written in whatever language the programmer wants.
But honestly what do you think would happen if android dies? There won't just immediately be a different system ready to step in and take its place.
Linux has been around for 30 years already. There isn't any technical reason why it isn't more widespread. Reasons are artificial: only blobs instead of drivers for any phone-related modules.
I agree. And Linux is great. We all know Android is a bastardized version of Linux... But...
Android isn't just the technology and operating system. It's am entire ecosystem of manufacturers, developers, applications, drivers, etc. The ecosystem will be difficult to replace even if the OS isn't
ecosystem
It shouldn't be replaced. It should be thrown away. Smartphones should be just handheld computers for running an arbitrary OS to run user programs. Nobody needs, wants or asked for the "ecosystem".
I hear you. But what are non-technical users supposed to do? Compile their own apps? Flash firmware and SSH in to install the right radios and drivers?
People treat their phones like appliances. They go to app stores to get apps which developers ensure work for specific SDKs on phones carefully tuned to work well with the carier's networks.
There are definitely users who will do everything from scratch. But like Linux for PCs, success of alternative OSs on phones will be dependent on there existing a good out of the box experience with the ability to integrate with hardware and third party software and/or quality open alternatives.
Most Linux users don't compile anything and live happily.
This was absolutely not the case back when I started using Linux back in 2007.
There's been a lot of work put into the desktop Linux ecosystem by a many different organizations and individuals to get it to this point.
Linux phones are at the stage where you need to apply a custom kernel patch to get it to sleep/wake properly on your hardware, get the camera working, etc. It will also take a long time for desktop Linux apps to get responsive (i.e. offer a good experience with a small touch screen).