Waydroid

Posted on in tools

I wanted to use Openvibe - an app that allows having a single timeline across multiple social media networks like mastodon and bluesky. It also supports cross posting (and more)

But currently it only has mobile apps (for both iOS and Android)

While the Desktop app is “in the works” - no specifics are provided.

I do not use mobile apps if at all possible. (Except for podcast and messeging apps to keep in touch with Family - on the go. If I’m at my desk, I use the Desktop version)

So I thought I was out of luck, till I rememembered about Waydroid.

As it mentions on their site, it runs Android in a container.

Installation went well.

Then it downloaded two images. (waydroid init failed during the installation. It needed sudo to work)

Both were lineageOS images.

Everything went smoothly.

But after Lineage OS loaded, I didn’t know what to do.

Using mobile device like interface on a desktop is disorienting 😁

I opened the browser (one of the three icons shown on default opening screen)

Opened Google Play Store.

I assumed it would let me install Openvibe.

But it showed my other two (Physical) devices as targets.

I searched a little more, and realized I need to spend more time (As with everything linux 😊)

(Preferred?) Way to install apps seems to be F-droid.

While I was “looking around” I noticed that this was Android 11. So maybe that is why Openvibe did not offer to install on that device.

Finally, I apt remove ed Waydroid, and removed the downloaded images as well.

I may come back in future.

Couple of things to try (in future)