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    Home»News»Linux package installs on Chromebooks to show app name, version and details, possibly in Chrome OS 73
    News

    Linux package installs on Chromebooks to show app name, version and details, possibly in Chrome OS 73

    Kevin TofelBy Kevin TofelFebruary 18, 2019Updated:February 18, 20193 Comments2 Mins Read
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    Back in September, I pointed out a Chrome OS bug report that had planned to provide more detailed information on a Linux application before actually installing it on a Chromebook. Work has continued on that effort and I recently captured a screenshot to show how it will look in Chrome OS:

    This screenshot isn’t from my Pixel Slate; the feature hasn’t been released yet so I don’t have access to it. Instead, this is a work-in-progress capture from the Chromium team as the functionality continues to develop.

    As a result, the final implementation could look different. But I’m pretty doubtful that much if anything will change from this image. The original feature description was to add “a details pane in the file manager’s .deb install dialog to provide package name, version, and a description of the package,” which is exactly what this dialog box provides.

    The idea here is that when using the native Files app to install a Debian package — essentially a Linux app — users will know more about what it is they’re actually installing before they click that Install button, making the experience a little more user-friendly and informative.

    I’ll be watching for this feature in the next release of the Chrome OS 73 Dev Channel since there’s a feature freeze date on February 22 for this version. If the dialog box doesn’t make the cut, look for this addition in Chrome OS 74.

    Chrome OS Chrome OS 73 Crostini Debian Files Linux Linux Apps Project Crostini
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    Kevin Tofel
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    After spending 15 years in IT at Fortune 100 companies, Kevin turned a hobby into a career and began covering mobile technology in 2003. He writes daily on the industry and has co-hosted the weekly MobileTechRoundup podcast since 2006. His writing has appeared in print (The New York Times, PC Magazine and PC World) and he has been featured on NBC News in Philadelphia.

    3 Comments

    1. Koko on February 18, 2019 12:15 pm

      That is really an odd way to install a debian package instead of using the apt system. If one installs a packet from the stable repository, is it correctly updated when it receives a security update ?

      • Kevin C. Tofel on February 18, 2019 12:39 pm

        Behind the scenes, it essentially uses apt AFAIK. This is just an informational dialog. For now, you still have to manually run apt update and upgrade in the Terminal.

    2. Noah Cain on February 18, 2019 9:15 pm

      When I open a deb file on beta73 it shows something very similar to this.

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