Chrome OS now supports .deb packages to install applications for Linux

Support for applications for Linux, Crostini is increasingly taking shape within Chrome OS. In fact, the Google operating system supports the installation of new applications from .deb packages, whereas previously this was only possible using the apt command line tool.

Support for applications for Linux Crostini is still not yet stable and officially supported: it is possible to enable it only on some Chromebooks and only using the unstable versions of the Dev and Canary operating system – it is not possible for anyone to exploit the applications.

To take advantage of this news it seems sufficient to insert the sudo apt update and sudo apt upgrade commands, at the end of the execution of which it is possible to install the .deb files directly from the File application.

The advantage of using the command line lies in the better management of dependencies and conflicts, but is certainly more difficult for common users and for this, a more graphic approach is essential before the launch to the public.

The choice of using the .deb standard can only raise questions about the management of packages in an environment that does not arise for this type of use: it seems reasonable to ask whether the adoption of a standard such as Flatpak or Snap could not represent a better choice under all profiles for this type of use, given the use of packages that contain a large part of their dependencies.

It is not yet known when the ability to use Linux applications will be available in the stable channel of Chrome OS.