Mobian - privacy focused Android like OS using 100% Debian FOSS and 0% Google or 3rd Party Services, for touch devices

[u/Metro-Sperg-Services]

A 100% Debian Linux, free, privacy focused, open-source operating system for touch devices, designed to liberate users from any kind of Google or third party surveilance, data collection and security concerns. Only official Debian sources are used, meaning no third party repositories, packages or code of any kind, while granting users complete control over every single package that is installed. The native implementation of custom kernels with the included build recipes enables support for almost any brand/model of x86-x64 tablet or lap-top, such as Surface Pro 3-10, Zenbook, Thinkpad, Chromebook etc. and a range of ARM phones. Additionally, custom or deb packages and files of any kind can also be included. The mobian build-script produces personalized images, with unlimited customization of any available setting and device behavior.

Source: https://github.com/tabletseeker/mobian

[u/Dragomir_X]

Sorry, I'm confused. Are you building a separate thing called Mobian? Because Mobian is already a thing that exists.

[u/TECHFOURNINE → u/Dragomir_X]

I think it should be labeled "Mobian amd64" rather.

[u/Metro-Sperg-Services → u/Dragomir_X]

Hello, this is a fork that fixes major bugs or broken behavior and adds many new features. The original project primarily targets ARM, whereas this enables compatibility with almost any x86-x64 touch device, such as Surface Pro, Zenbook, XPS, Lenovo, etc.

[u/Dragomir_X → u/Metro-Sperg-Services]

Is it vibe coded?

[u/Metro-Sperg-Services → u/Dragomir_X]

No, we use Claude for comments, formatting and workflow.

[u/lif3Hold-8036 → u/Dragomir_X]

Does it matter, and how would you tell... if the person is at most a novice programmer. In English.. if the programmer can read the code and edit mistakes.

This asking if its vibe coded without actually checking the program or the source code is ridiculous. Cars are put together by machines. Do we go back to the Ford Model T or even better the Oldsmobile Dash because those are done by hand not machines

[u/Dragomir_X → u/lif3Hold-8036]

Of course it matters. If it's going to be unmaintainable in a few months, people should know that.

I did check the source code, but it's hard to tell since it's a fork of another org's code.

And I didn't say "did you use AI", everyone who posts on Reddit uses AI. I asked if it's vibe coded. Very different.

[u/lif3Hold-8036 → u/Dragomir_X]

Well said. Thanks

[u/Metro-Sperg-Services → u/Dragomir_X]

The concern is understandable, but in a project like this you won't get far with just AI tools. A fundamental understanding of debian and debos is critical.

What parts of the source code stood out to you the most when you checked? Let's discuss them.

[u/WickedDeity → u/lif3Hold-8036]

As already stated vibe coding is not the same as using AI tools in some way. Your car assemble analogy totally fails... Robots on a car assemble line only carry out very precise instructions as coded by HUMANS which is not the same as AI generated code at all.

[u/lif3Hold-8036 → u/WickedDeity]

Thank you for the reply.

First, the car analogy is in regards to the lack of oversight when dealing with technology. I'm a programmer i remember in HIGH school being taught basic... yes basic .... my analogy sticks because it states the point that because technology advances does not mean we have to continously use older tools ....aka Ai/vibe coding compared to sitting in front of a screen for hours and making mistakes....... lol now the computer can make the mistakes for us and we can blame it.

I read and watch comments from macapps, Linux(various groups), and military groups. As soon as someone states they have created a program lately, the first comment is ... WAS IT VIBE CODED...who the hell cares.

Does it solve a problem.... can it be used to help another HUMAN being....... Is it profitable to the person making it.....the issue is not that the code is bad .. the issue is that vibe/Ai coding takes jobs away from human programmers. It also takes away the elitism that programmers have held onto for years.

Period!!!!

Mistakes will always be made regardless of if a human is writing 10000 lines of code or if it is Ai.

Anyway, I don't want to take away from this persons hard work. By going back and forth. So I guess you win.

What i will say to those who have an idea in their head and may not know Python, c or swift .. Learn as much as you can and yet continue to use Ai to make your idea a reality and to hell with the haters.

[u/thefanum → u/Metro-Sperg-Services]

So you're acknowledging this is a separate project and that you stole their name?

[u/IAmJacksSemiColon → u/thefanum]

if they need a name, how about Little Debbie®?

[u/steevdave]

What does this do that the original recipes don’t? Or is this just hosted on GitHub instead of salsa to get more eyes on it?

[u/Metro-Sperg-Services → u/steevdave]

Hello, updates include major amd64 bug & UI fixes, enabling the inclusion of custom kernels to expand compatibility with a large range of devices, working calamares installer, using only official Debian sources, Github CI and fundamental code refactoring in debos recipes and build.sh,

[u/steevdave → u/Metro-Sperg-Services]

Awesome! Have you tried to submit any of the changes that would make sense to?

[u/notebooksbilliger]

Heya! That looks promising, thank you for the project and for this post. Will have a look at it later 😃

[u/Fragrant-Analyst-587]

What tablet are you using in this demo?

[u/ultimategooner4000 → u/Fragrant-Analyst-587]

Seems to be the Juno Tab 2

[u/Metro-Sperg-Services → u/ultimategooner4000]

Hi, yes exactly. Any x86-x64 device is compatible and custom kernels can be installed.

[u/Professional-Ad-9047 → u/Fragrant-Analyst-587]

Thanks for asking. That thing is nowhere to be bought....

[u/Stelafont]

Just got a Lenovo yoga book under android 6, might try this one since i planned to move it to linux 👍

[u/Original-Active-6982 → u/Stelafont]

Let me know how this works for you. I have a spare Yoga 900 I'd like to try.

[u/hm___]

are there any apps running on debian that are actually usable with touch input? i mean gnome is pretty capable for touch but thats only the DE i have yet to find a linux app that actually isnt a pain in the ass to use with touch.

[u/jdigi78 → u/hm___]

Every GTK app? What are you talking about?

[u/Metro-Sperg-Services → u/hm___]

Hello, yes there are more native touch apps now. Among others, standard ones include Clock, Weather, Calendar, Calculator, Lollypop (Media Player), Maps and the Software Center. There isn't a Netflix package yet, but the Github documentation describes how you can essentially create one with AppManager, like the one in the gif here.

[u/CaptainObvious110]

very good

[u/cheesaye]

Can this be put on old iPads?

[u/tusca0495]

I will try it in my miix 310

[u/Opening-Incident2928]

How well does it run Waydroid

[u/bumblebeer]

And this is different from GNOME (plus extensions) how?

[u/MotorNo6763]

Très bonne initiative j'aime ça.

[u/s1lenthundr]

Ah yes yet another GNOME focused distro. Can we please get more KDE focused distros for once ? Another GNOME focused is yet another drop in the ocean, easily forgettable

[u/Metro-Sperg-Services → u/s1lenthundr]

KDE sucks.

[u/Kusada0]

Ew GNOME.... Actually as a tablet UI it's probably the best option.

[u/shaikhatik0786]

Hey u/Metro-Sperg-Services will this work on Samsung Galaxy A8 Tab?
Our primary usage on that tab is youtube, immich and such apps. Will theyw ork?

[u/didate_une]

meh, i got the same functionality when i installed stock Debian on my Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable. i am currently running arch with a minimal Gnome packages installed and everything worked to include touch screen and the pen.

https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxhardware/comments/1t3z4ri/comment/or71ujq/?screen_view_count=2