Android is Linux

1. Preamble
2. "Android has no package manager!"
3. "Android does not use the GNU system!"
4. "Android does not use systemd/sysvinit/openrc/runit/whatever!"
5. "Android is just not a Linux distro!"
6. "But wouldn't that make Windows 11 with WSL2 a Linux distro?"
7. "Android is built on Java!"
8. "Android does not use X11 or Wayland!"
9. "Android is not a desktop operating system!"
10. "Android cannot run Linux apps!"
11. Conclusion

1. Preamble

A common sentiment in the Linux community is that Android is not Linux. While that has its arguments, I am here to debunk them all.

First of all, when people refer to Linux, what they really mean is a Linux distro. So I will be using that definition.

2. "Android has no package manager!"

There is no authority defining what a package manager is. Therefore, I'll use the name to define it.

A package manager is a program that manages packages. Does Android have that? Yes! It's called /system/bin/pm.

3. "Android does not use the GNU system!"

This clearly comes from GNU convincing everyone that Linux needs GNU.

A big example of this being contradicted by the people who made this argument is Alpine. If you ask the people who made this argument if Alpine is a Linux distro, they'll say yes.

Alpine does not use a single line of code written by GNU! It uses BusyBox and musl.

Just like Alpine, Android does not use GNU. It uses Toybox and Bionic.

4. "Android does not use systemd/sysvinit/openrc/runit/whatever!"

Does this matter? There is no authority defining what init system a Linux distro should use. All a Linux distro needs is a working init system.

Unless your phone is bricked, it is proof Android has a working init system.

5. "Android is just not a Linux distro!"

Again, there is no authority defining what a Linux distro is. Therefore, I'll use the name to define it.

A Linux distro is an operating system that uses the Linux kernel. Therefore, Android qualifies as a Linux distro.

6. "But wouldn't that make Windows 11 with WSL2 a Linux distro?"

No, as Linux runs in a VM here.

7. "Android is built on Java!"

Is there an authority that says a Linux distro should be built on anything else? I cannot find any.

8. "Android does not use X11 or Wayland!"

Arch can be installed without any of these display servers, therefore by this argument it can be made to not be a Linux distro!

9. "Android is not a desktop operating system!"

Linux phones exist. Do they run Linux? Of course they do!

10. "Android cannot run Linux apps!"

Yes it can! They just need to be compiled for the correct architecture and either be static or be linked against Bionic. They just won't appear on your home screen.

11. Conclusion

All the arguments for Android not being Linux assume there's some authority that defines what a Linux distro is beyond the name. There isn't any, meaning all of them are wrong.