[codedokode]

I don't understand, what's the point of reinventing UI and apps from scratch when there is Android Open Source, with GUI and millions of apps? Wouldn't it be better to cut away all the telemetry from AOSP, add a custom wallpaper and call it a day?

[Aachen]

Look at it from both sides. Ubuntu has a vibrant ecosystem of software (commonly known as the Debian repositories, with some attempts at launching their on on top like PPA and Snap)

Launching a mobile OS with all that software already available was miles better than what Android can offer today: loads of things exist open source for Debian that haven't been recreated as an Android app (closed or open) because the OS doesn't allow it anyway. Let alone when the project was started in 2011!

Conversely, in the 14 years that Ubuntu Touch now exists, Android developers have been busy and you'll now find mobile software that can do things that laptops can't, e.g. because they're not normally put in a car as a navigation device and don't normally have GNSS built in. So now we're in a state where you'd think: why not take AOSP and run with it? But fourteen years ago you'd think: wouldn't it be amazing if we could just run all of our tried and true software on a phone? (Fwiw, that's exactly what I did when I got my first Android (and still do today): get root and install a Debian userspace to run tools within, such as Restic for backups. I compiled a Bitcoin miner for ARM back in the day just because that would be fun and cool. There's so much you can do when you have a Linux distribution in your pocket!)

So I see your point, but consider the history. My understanding is that this project comes from a time when it made perfect sense. By now, though, I wonder the same. But I haven't tried Ubuntu Touch yet so I can't really speak ill of it and say we should use AOSP instead of them

[codedokode]

> Ubuntu has a vibrant ecosystem of software (commonly known as the Debian repositories, with some attempts at launching their on on top like PPA and Snap)

Yes but the most of the packages are either CLI tools (not really usable on a phone) or tools with desktop GUI (with tiny elements, not usable on a phone). And probably there is a way to port Wayland/Pipewire to Android, which seems an easier task that writing full OS.

For example, take GIMP, or Qucs (electric circuit simulator), or Kdenlive (video editor), or LMMS (audio editor), in their current form they would be unusable due to tiny UI elements. One needs completely new UI for small screens.

> There's so much you can do when you have a Linux distribution in your pocket!)

Maybe but I am not really interested in compiling anything, I have a laptop for that, I am interested in having an open source OS without restrictions, telemetry and backdoors.

[jhasse]

Yes and it has already been done: https://e.foundation/ You can also buy a phone preloaded with it: https://shop.fairphone.com/the-fairphone-gen-6-e-operating-s...

[reddalo]

Good luck running AOSP without Google Play Services.

[mzajc]

I do that. F-Droid also requires that applications do not depend on any GMS component, but if you need anything from GMS, you can install https://microg.org/ and selectively enable the features you need.

[codedokode]

Google Play Services are mainly ads and telemetry, why would anyone need them? Do you have not enough ads and want more? Also I install apps mostly from F-Droid, and as I am aware, there are Play Services emulators.